u1 gallery

Every artist carries something at the heart of their practice—an idea, a question, or a way of seeing that continues to shape the work as it evolves. In this conversation, Yaqin Li reflects on an artistic practice rooted in experimental photography, a questioning of established boundaries, and an interest in the unpredictable nature of image-making. Through processes that embrace chance, material intervention, and ambiguity, she challenges conventional ideas of photography and image authorship. Her work explores the space between control and uncertainty, drawing attention to the physical traces of creation and the possibilities that emerge when an image resists fixed definitions. In this chapter of The Core Message , we explore the ideas that inform her approach to photography and the questions that continue to shape her creative process. From challenging the influence of algorithms and questioning the notion of the perfect image to embracing accidents and allowing her practice to ...