The exhibition showcases the latest iteration of the „experimental relationship” series, most of the photographs were taken after 2018 while the couple traveled through their native China and Japan, and includes a photograph taken last year when they visited Romania for the 2/3 Galeria exhibition in Bucharest.

The various juxtapositions and fragments of the imagery of the couple’s relationship include the tenderness of intimacy in the solitude of nature, the ingenuity of childhood games in which the two share the same coat simultaneously, or Pixy assuming the role of power while carrying Moro on her shoulder like a sack of potatoes. The artist presents us with a game between two lovers, exploiting the viewer’s voyeurism and curiosity through seemingly childish actions. The reversal of power roles and the direct way in which the artist confronts the viewer’s gaze leaves no doubt who is in control. The answer is simple: PIXY.

Pixy Liao explores a range of relational possibilities and proposes a reversal of the patriarchal scenario in which traditional couple roles become interchangeable. The 17-year ongoing project is a staging of her relationship with Moro, her boyfriend, in which Liao creates various intimate, playful and witty tableaus and video works that often place her in a position of power over Moro, in a subtle reversal of gender roles.

Many of Pixy Liao’s photographs are inspired by pop culture, others by classical painting. The gestures of the two are carefully staged, giving the impression of intimacy, though the viewer remains aware that the scenes photographed are not part of an everyday moment. Stereotypes can have different nuances in different places, and Pixy subtly reminds us, using disarming humor, how important it is to be aware of and even question the cultural and social norm.