Subverting the Gaze: Yushi Li’s Exploration of Gender, Power, and New Media in Contemporary Chinese Art

Volume 22, March 2025
by Phyllis Zhong


Article Description

As digital technologies rapidly evolve, more female artists are advocating for control over their own narratives and reconceptualizing the gaze as an active, diverse interaction. This shift moves away from the traditional "male gaze," which reinforces power structures, toward a more fluid and reciprocal relationship between the artist, audience, and artwork. Phyllis Zhong's article explores Yushi Li's work, highlighting how the internet has transformed the act of looking by making images ubiquitous and eliminating secrets or mysteries. Li uses the internet to connect people, bringing her work into everyday life and encouraging viewers to creatively explore deeper meanings within art and the world.


Related Keywords

Phyllis Zhong, the gaze, Yushi Li, gender, power, new media