Junyi Liu

“Killing Me Softly” Series

Artist Statement: Killing Me Softly 

Junyi Liu’s artworks are deeply rooted in her life experience. Her latest body of work “Killing Me Softy” reveals the complex psychology of people who found themselves in toxic relationships. She painted scenes of young women interacting with sweet foods, sometimes in a puzzling way.  Once given the key that sweets are a metaphor for toxic relationships, it is easy for the viewer to comprehend the latent meaning of those interactions. The most obvious similarity of them is the addictive quality. Toxic relationships bring satisfaction and euphoria, while harming the more vulnerable person emotionally, psychologically, and/or physically. Attempts to leave the relationships often fail due to the psychological dependence developed overtime. Junyi has been in multiple toxic relationships, and unfortunately her mental illness has made her an easier target for people with toxic traits. She chose to express the fear, frustration, and ambivalence she experienced through artistic romanticization. The usage of rich, harmonious colors is consistent throughout all the paintings, while the characters within engage in activities that suggest mental instability or even suicide ideation. Each painting was titled with a quote commonly-heard from the abusers, such as “Stop being so dramatic” . The well-executed portraitures, appetizing sweets, and bright colors serve as a disguise for the underlaying cruel sufferance the characters endure. 

“Watch Me Burn” Series

“Happily Ever after” Series

“Lonely Together” Series

“MEAT JOY”Series

figures

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Figures

Large Scale

Still Life

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White Box

Mixed Media. 2017

The installation appears to be a white box with a pure and simple look. However, through the slit of the door, the viewers will see its distinct interior. The interior is an enclosed space. The light from the top reveals a dirty squatting toilet, with an overfilled trashcan, nasty ceramics tiles, cigarette butts, graffiti on the wall… The chaos screams underneath a simple and clean surface, while being perfectly covered by it, unless people peek inside. The piece is influenced by my personal experiences in Italy, which were unexpected at first but then became something I was used to. The toilet is a metaphor for the touristic cities. People came, look, get what they want and leave. The city is consumed the way the public toilets are used by thousands of people. It may seem nice on the outside, while at the inside it has all kinds of issue, pains and sadness, forgotten men and stories, rotten memories and loves.

Urban Weapon

Mixed Media. 2017.

The installation consists of broke wine bottles I gathered in Florence. I stained them with blood as if they were once used as weapons to hurt someone. I photographed them against a clean, white background, though the objects themselves don’t have an elegant appearance that people normally associate with artworks. To me, the broken, bloody bottles are threatening yet beautiful. They are suggesting stories. They are the inner selves of the cities, of the people living within, and of their history.

Not A Conversation

Mixed Media. 2016.

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