JINGYU

My feelings are as blurred as the photographs themselves.

Myopia is a very peculiar visual experience. Since I became myopic in the third grade, the writing on the blackboard grew increasingly blurred. At that time, I was afraid of blur. I worried that if I told my parents, I would be blamed.

For all these years since then, I have always felt that myopia was a defect. Especially when I reached the age when I began to care about beauty, thick lenses seriously affected my appearance.

But my myopia also made me realise that every time I take off my glasses,

I become extraordinarily beautiful!

I cannot see the details clearly, and the outlines can expand my imagination without limit, so I appear exceptionally perfect.

When I was first asked to create work around the theme of blur, myopia immediately came to mind. After several attempts, I chose what I felt was the most suitable way of photographing—placing the lens of my glasses close to the camera lens. In this way, I could obtain images of all kinds of possibilities.

But in fact, its essential logic is very similar to adding a filter, and there is nothing particularly special about it. As for why I still insist on creating this way, it is because when I work like this, I become completely immersed in it.

I look forward to every second of change in the image, every collision of colours, and every different degree of distortion and blur.

So I am more inclined to see the “Myopia” series as a way for the creator to connect with things in the outside world. You can certainly call it a kind of self-indulgence, but only when you try it do you discover the pleasure of its uncertainty.

The “Myopia” series is a way for the creator to connect with things in the outside world.

THE ARCHIVE ASKS — 01

What do you think photography means?

A way of expression, an emotional refuge, something that lets you feel beauty in an ordinary life and gives you something you want to do. Perhaps I am completely a visual creature. When I see a photograph I love, my heart trembles. Yet I seem completely unable to understand music.

THE ARCHIVE ASKS — 02

Do you think photography has a “healing effect” in your life? If so, briefly describe a moment when you felt healed through photography.

Anytime. Anywhere.

THE ARCHIVE ASKS — 03

When you look at the works you uploaded now, do you feel the same as you did when you first took them? If your feelings are different, you are welcome to share.

The feelings are different. But my feelings are as blurred as the photographs themselves. But I am very certain that I felt many emotions and energies. Yet I cannot explain them clearly.