
IN CONVERSATION
STRN6 INTERVIEW: JANE UI
We interviewed Jane Ui, an artist who recently joined Saturn Six Gallery. She revealed to us many aspects of her work, such as the philosophy of Benedict Croce, inspiration from women-photographers, self-expression and much more.
What role does art play in a person's life?
Italian philosopher Croce once said that Art, itself as a form of aesthetic interest, has nothing to do with usefulness, pleasure and pain as such. The intersubjectivity in sensuous appreciation reflects a kind of an image's ideal or "pure form" which is not defined by such concepts as right or wrong, true or false. Croce argues that it is feeling or emotion, as a kind of cognitive awareness or "lyrical intuition," not described by romanticism nor by classicism, that is the basis of the unity of art through its synthesis of both form and content. Art is intuition as an expression of the inner state of the creator who makes an image or phantasm, and the viewer, through his intuitive abilities, perceives the object of art and evaluates it properly.
What role does art play in your life?
I think that photography is a picture presented by subjective consciousness and a state of self.
Because I'm not good with words, I use images to express myself. In addition, photography is an opportunity to explore the world and be realized in it.
Why did you choose photography?
Photography for me is a way out of reality, and an abstract way of seeing, that always pushes the boundaries of your eyes. Those Invisible perspectives and colors of objects can be extracted to form a subjective composition, which is what I feel satisfied with.
How does photography differ from other art mediums?
It may be because photography is more straight in its expression, there is no language barrier. Also it's the direct observation of the object itself.
Who is your favorite artist/photographer? Why?
Francesca Woodman, whose work is fragile and disturbing. Like me, she explores the themes of identity and self-expression. I love the emotions of her photos that evoke a sense of vulnerability and mystery.
And Diane Arbus, who is more about culture and figuration. Her photographs provide a candid look at people's lives, challenging traditional notions of beauty and normality.

ARTWORK: UNTITLED, JANE UI, PHOTOGRAPHY

ARTWORK: UNTITLED, JANE UI, PHOTOGRAPHY



ARTWORK: UNTITLED, JANE UI, PHOTOGRAPHY

ARTWORK: UNTITLED, JANE UI, PHOTOGRAPHY
What kind of impact do you want to have on viewers of your works?
Photography has infinite possibilities. It allows us to perceive the beauty and significance in even the most ordinary or fleeting moments. It has the power to evoke a wide range of emotions in people. It can even inspire action.
What do your photos say?
Photography should not contain excessive thoughts, it should be practical as much as possible. My works wander between form and substance, a kind of dissonant.
This is one of my earliest photos, a portrait of a model for a boutique in Beijing. At that moment, what attracted me was the contradiction between the high fashion pieces the model was wearing and the rural environment in which she lived.
Can you explain the artistic choice behind blurring the flowers?
This series of "illusions" was actually shot in a special state of sensuality. It is a very private and intimate thing.

ARTWORK: UNTITLED, JANE UI, PHOTOGRAPHY

Do you remember your first photo?
One of my earliest photographs captures a model posing for a Beijing boutique. What intrigued me then was the stark contrast between the elegant fashion she adorned and the rural backdrop she inhabited.
What is your distinctive style?
I am interested in the beauty and unusualness of a moment. Sometimes I like to give the camera in my hand the freedom to capture unexpected shots at random. Through the exploration of uncertainty, my photography aestheticizes reality, transforming everything and anything into a subject.
How do you decide whether to shoot in black and white or color for a particular subject or scene?
In my opinion, photography is not design. The decision of creation always comes from the intuitive feeling given by the current object.

ARTWORK: UNTITLED, JANE UI, PHOTOGRAPHY
