Real to Me

What do we truly share? What belongs to us, and what remains just out of reach, in our relationships—whether with people, places, or memories?

"While considering the impact of personal histories and cultural contexts, I create images and videos that feel authentic yet are entirely fictional, intended to provoke introspection and conversation about the complexities of connection, self-reflection, and the fluid nature of relationships with oneself, others, and spaces.

Through photos, videos, and found objects, Real to Me, includes both my previous work and new, in progress pieces created during the residency. I aim to explore the complexities of connection in its many forms: the push and pull of intimate relationships, fleeting encounters with strangers, and the enduring ties to family and home. These projects also examine the tension between personal and collective memory, questioning how we reconcile the past with the ever-changing present.This exhibition is an exploration of how we seek connection and navigate self-acceptance. Real to Me invites the viewer to reconsider how we perceive ourselves, the relationships we build, and how our relationship with ourselves impacts our bonds with others. It also encourages reflection on the ways in which we create meaning in our lives—through the stories we tell, the identities we perform, and the connections we forge."

Christina Yao (BDes '24, Photography) is a China-born, Calgary-based multidisciplinary artist working in photography, video, installation, and curation. Having lived and worked in the U.S., Colombia, and Canada, her cross-cultural experiences inform her exploration of relationships, identity, and place. She holds a BDes in Photography (with Distinction) from the Alberta University of the Arts. She was a finalist in the 2024 LensCulture Portrait Awards and exhibited in the Emerging Photographers Showcase at the 2024 Exposure Alberta Photo Festival. Her work has been exhibited at Sotheby’s Institute of Art (New York), ASC Studio (London, UK), Contemporary Calgary, The Marion Nicoll Gallery, TRUCK Contemporary Art, cSPACE, The Bows, and Arts Commons. Additionally, she curated a group exhibition featuring three BIPOC female artists at The New Gallery.

Christina Yao