Biography

Wendong Yao is a photographic artist based in Seattle Washington and Shanghai China. She achieved her undergrad degree in Art and Communications at the University of Washington in 2022. Wendong has a professional career in marketing analytics while pursuing her artistic practice in photography.

One ideal of hers is to create photographic works that talk to people. Interpretation of her work is not necessary for most circumstances because her ideal is to make the audience feel by themselves, make them think back about their stories, or just provide them a space to stare blankly.

Artist Statement

I took pictures of the landscape, people, and the environment that I’ve lived in. My works are mainly photographic works, especially using film cameras. People often assume my work is pressing shutters, but in my studio practice, I also develop and scan film works by myself. The process of developing film is very healing for me. Seeing pictures from scratch and leaving physical carriers makes me feel content. Those negatives reflect my growing experience, just like a diary. I can read them at any time and remember the mood I had when taking each photo.

On a deeper level, I seek intimate relationships between the photographer and the subject in the frame. I like composing with feelings, and it is like turning a sort of blind eye and going with the flow with what you are feeling at the moment. It works the same way as if you were to set a tone in a poem and establish the sort of energy the viewers about to meet with. It affects the mood of the photo, and mood is crucial to my visual art form.