Xingyu Dai was interviewed for the fourth (and final) edition of the Contrast publication. You can find the online exhibition version of the publication here.
Why did you choose photography as the medium for exploring these themes of invisibility and judgement?
Photography isn’t just about documenting appearances; it’s an exploration of the gaze itself. It unveils the power dynamics between the observer and the observed. Historically, women have been the subject of this gaze, and photography amplifies that tension. The medium, imbued with the authority of ‘looking,’ becomes a vehicle to discuss the scrutiny and judgement of the body, offering a subtly ironic commentary.
Can you take us through the process of conceptualising and editing a photograph from the start to the finished photograph?
Take the image of the arm as an example. The idea of the marks wasn’t initially part of the concept. But as the tape remained wrapped around the model’s skin, an imprint began to form, and that’s when the vision crystallised. I instructed the model to repeatedly encircle the tape, deepening the impression until it became undeniable. In editing, I embraced minimalism, focusing solely on the raw interaction between skin and the marks left behind.
What do you hope a viewer will feel or reflect upon when encountering your work for the first time?
The aim isn’t to be ‘beautiful’ or ‘striking,’ but a moment of pause. A fleeting discomfort or a sense of familiarity may resonate with the viewer. I want them to realise that the feeling of being measured is something we all experience-often silently, and too often, unconsciously.
In the Blade (2025) photograph with the red rose; how do you interpret the idea of ‘restraint’, is it physical, societal, psychological or all of them?
The intertwining of the three aspects. The rose around the neck, in this piece, represents multiple layers of restraint. Physically, it’s a tight adornment. Psychologically, it evokes a sense of control, of limitation. Socially, it is a symbol of beauty, now shaped by modern standards. The pressure exerted by the rose is no longer just external, but internalised, becoming part of how we assess ourselves in relation to beauty and worth.
For the other photograph in the series- do you consider the marks symbolic of permanent wounds or are they healing, fading scars, perhaps?
The marks left by the tape are not merely physical. They are mental. They don’t bleed, but they are permanent. We believe we’ve let go of them, but they remain, quietly woven into our consciousness, resurfacing as unspoken limitations.
What kind of conversations do you hope this series sparks within art spaces, among women, or in wider public discourses?
I hope this series sparks reflection, not resolution. It doesn’t seek to answer questions about body image but asks: how do we perceive ourselves, and how are we perceived? Within women’s spaces, it may evoke shared understanding; in a broader context, it might stir discomfort. But discomfort is important-it reminds us of something we often overlook.
What guided your decision to keep the images minimalistic- focusing only on the body and the tape (and the red rose)?
Minimalism allows the body to speak for itself. The more elements in an image, the more the focus shifts from the rawness of the body. The measuring tape is a metaphor for external pressure, while the rose serves as an emotional release. In leaving the rest empty, the absence becomes as telling as what’s present.
How do you see your work evolving in response to current and future social or political conversations about identity, body and visibility? Furthermore, where do you see your practice in the next ten years? Are there any upcoming projects you’d like to share?
In the future, I will continue to focus on the relationship between women and structural power, with the body remaining a central theme, though not limited to it. I’m currently planning to use inanimate objects, employing ‘cold’ materials to discuss intangible harm, such as combining wedding dresses and goblets. I believe this collision will create a unique effect.