Yingqi Wang

Photography (MA)

Performer, an interactive art exhibition by Yingqi Wang, explores the psychological and sociological effects of surveillance and the gaze. Using light installations and real-time projections, the exhibition creates an environment where participants experience the sensation of being constantly monitored and observed.

Drawing on theories such as the Hawthorne Effect, Foucault's panopticism and Sartre's concept of the gaze, the project encourages reflection on privacy, identity and personal freedom in a digitally monitored society. Through observation and self-reflection, it explores how being watched affects individual psychology and self-perception, transforming viewers from passive observers into active participants and co-creators, and highlighting the performative nature of the gaze.

The exhibition links real and virtual space through the construction of a virtual model on site. No matter what dimension you are in, you are being watched, whether the gaze is tangible or intangible. Their identity in reality or in the virtual world may shift, inducing a performative personality and leading to a transformation of identity once again. This multidimensional experience of being watched reveals the complexity of individual psychology and behaviour in a surveilled society.

Performer

About

Yingqi Wang’s work engages with the complexities of identity as it unfolds across both spatial and digital realms. Her work beckons viewers into a profound exploration of self in the digital age, discussing the intricate web of connections that define our contemporary existence.

A central tenet of her practice is an inquiry into the nature of the gaze. She explores how we perceive and are perceived in an interconnected world, revealing the multifaceted layers of personal and collective identity. Her creations serve as a contemplation of our interconnected world, reflecting on how the act of looking shapes our understanding of self and others in contemporary society.

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