Check Out Mingyue Liu’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Mingyue Liu.

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
My name is Mingyue Liu. As an artist, my work delves into the concept of photography as a form of tertiary retention, capturing fleeting and ever-changing moments that go beyond traditional narrative roles. My creative process is deeply rooted in extensive darkroom techniques, such as multi-layered exposures and carefully crafted negative photograms.

My interest in film photography began during my undergraduate studies, where I specialized in photography. This academic foundation sparked my passion and continues to shape my artistic approach. My work experiments with the various meanings behind the act of photographing, including the interactions with people, objects, and subjective observations encountered during the process. The driving force behind my creativity is the desire to assign value to personal experiences, particularly in the context of our natural tendency to forget.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I’ve encountered some challenges and internal debates when I decided to use film as my primary medium for artistic creation. However, I believe the biggest difficulty lies in the fact that, as an artist working with film, finding a well-equipped darkroom is not always easy. This is an objective issue that needs to be overcome.

My work is primarily driven by visual aesthetics, and I often struggle with finding concepts that resonate with this focus. As an artist, especially in the realm of conceptual art, it’s crucial to have a strong connection between the work and relevant political or social topics. Ideally, the concept should lead the creation, rather than the other way around. However, I find it challenging to work in this way, as I’m not particularly drawn to topics within the humanities and social sciences. This disconnect has been a persistent source of frustration for me.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I currently work as a darkroom artist, specializing in capturing fleeting and ever-changing elements beyond the narrative function of photography. My work focuses on showcasing the raw technical nature of the medium, offering an alternative way to observe and appreciate unique moments.

One of the things I’m most proud of is the deep connection I share with my family and friends, who often accompany me during my creative and photographic processes. I believe that the experiences and memories behind each click of the shutter are just as important as the final image itself. My work explores the different meanings behind the act of photographing, including the people I encounter, the events I witness, and my subjective observations of objects.

What sets me apart is my unique approach to creation, particularly my expertise in darkroom techniques. I have a keen ability to control color in color darkroom processes and to intentionally intervene in the photo development process—such as through the layering of multiple negatives—to achieve a closed-loop experience. This allows me to recreate or reinterpret the emotions and atmosphere of the moment captured on film.

So maybe we end on discussing what matters most to you and why?
The most important part of my process is the completion of the creative cycle in the darkroom, where I revisit and reconnect with the negatives. Often, a considerable amount of time has passed between the moment of capture and the development of the film. When I return to the darkroom to work with the negatives, I’m brought back to the emotions and atmosphere of the original moment. This entire journey, from shooting to the final image, reaches its culmination in the darkroom. The process of creating in the darkroom is also an intensely personal and introspective experience, where I immerse myself fully in the memory of the moment and use my technical and aesthetic sensibilities to breathe new life into the image.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.mingyue-liu.com
• Instagram: mingyue_liu