Experimental relationship. Visual & Performing Arts Essay

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Experimental Relationship
The pictures in this paper contain photographs of the artist Pixy Liao and her boyfriend taken at different points in their relationship from 2007 up to the present. These photos are from her photo blogging website name “Pixy Liao” where she showcases her installations, projects and gallery. In one of her photo galleries on the website, I choose her collection entitled “Experimental Relationship” to include in this paper. Pixy explained that the photographs in the experimental relationship aim to explore and question the traditional heterosexual relationship where a man is seen to be dominant while women need to surrender themselves to their partners. In the photos, the couple tries to make a setting that shifts the traditional norms of a man and a woman to inverse their expected gender roles. These reveal a great gender shift in power.[Liao, Pixy. “Experimental Relationship.” pixyliao, 2007-2020, http://pixyliao.com/experimental-relationship. Accessed 11 April 2020.] [In the website she iterated: “I would set up all kinds of situations for Moro and me to perform in the photos. My photos explore the alternative possibilities of heterosexual relationships” (Liao).]
Pixy admitted in her website that she only dated men who are older than her; however, her current boyfriend, Moro, is five years younger than her which tempted Pixy to document the growth of their relationship. She observed their interactions and compliance with gender roles. Pixy concluded that she was the one who is dominant in their relationship that changed her view about the concept behind a heterosexual relationship. Although the main theme of her photos in the experimental relationship is about a gender power shift, the secondary theme is about love-hate situations that are rooted in their nationalities since Pixy is Chinese while Moro is Japanese.
Pixy’s pictures on the website are not in chronological order. Making the connection and finding the meaning behind the pictures are left to the viewer’s own interpretation. If the pictures were examined individually, the message of each picture has limited sense and can confuse the viewers about its underlying theme. At first glance, the general message I observed about the gallery pertains to the sexual explorations of the couple. A deeper understanding of the collective meaning of the pictures reveals their intention of challenging the traditional norms of their culture. Because Pixy is Chinese, she used body language that is unique in Chinese culture to convey her message towards her audience. For example, in China, looking directly to the eye of another person means setting a challenge or blatant disrespect. In pictures A, B and C, we can see this body language where Pixy wanted to change gender expectations and cultural norms. She is making direct eye-contact with the viewers that are a sign of challenging another person or the traditional norm of a person in general.[Raeburn, Alicia. “10 Places Where Eye-Contact Is Not Recommended (10 Places Where the Locals Are Friendly).” TheTravel.com, 12 Sept. 2018, /10-places-where-eye-contact-is-not-recommend...