By Jehna Devraj

Drawing inspiration from numerous sources, Lucy Liu uses her camera to create images that are infused with her thoughts and emotions. Her work shows a true grasp of reality, while maintaining a contemplative theme.

Lucy loves to browse through blogs of different photographers; she finds it interesting contemplating how different, yet similar, photographers capture people’s actions and feelings. Her favourite photographer is Chenman, one of China’s most well-known female fashion and portrait photographers. Other than Chenman, Lucy is also fond of the work of Cindy Sherman and Annie Leibovitz. Regarding her own works, she also has a particular soft-spot for works in the genres of portrait, street, and flash photography.

Having truly discovered her passion for photography in the summer after grade 10, after taking numerous years of drawing, Lucy attributes her fondness for art to her father. Although her father enjoys painting and Lucy enjoys photography, the passion felt by the pair is the same. Now, Lucy loves capturing the beauty of human faces and expressions. When asked about her personal style, she stated, “I try to emphasize emotions in my photographs. I want my photos to be thought provoking to the viewers and have the ability to tell stories. The most important thing is the I go with my feelings when I take photos. When it feels right, the photographs turn out good as well. I try to avoid being obsessed with perfecting the technical aspects.”

In regards to her personal artistic philosophy, Lucy described it as quite simple: “once you have a solid idea, be bold and go for it.” The reasoning behind this style, she explained, is based on her own observations of hesitation and how it can be a barrier in art. The fear of taking risks, she says, can often act against an artist’s creativity. By keeping this in mind, Lucy has produced some of her greatest works.

Although Lucy does not have any immediate plans of continuing her studies in photography, she is motivated to continue taking photographs, and perhaps attend an art school after completing an undergraduate degree. All in all, it is clear that Lucy’s unique style of photography has a certain cultural currency that leaves the viewer in a reflective state. Her work is addictive and charged: ready to challenge perception and brew introspection.