Hushed Noise’s 10: Roey Qiu on Fine Art, Identity, and the Power of Photography

5 Feb 2025

Roey Qiu is a fine art photographer whose work delves into themes of identity, intimacy, and the hidden narratives within ordinary spaces. Through a mix of analog techniques and conceptual storytelling, she captures a world where memory and reality blur. In this conversation, Roey shares her thoughts on her creative journey, the inspirations that shape her work, and what it means to navigate the art world as an emerging artist.

HUSHED NOISE: Can you share a bit about your artistic journey? What inspired you to start creating?

Roey Qiu: My artistic journey started as a way to visually explore themes of identity, memory, and emotional connection. I have always been drawn to the power of images—how they can tell stories, capture fleeting moments, and preserve emotions that words often fail to express. Photography, for me, became the perfect medium to translate those intangible feelings into something tangible.

Over time, my practice evolved beyond documentation into something more conceptual. I became interested in how light, composition, and texture could evoke deeper narratives. My inspiration comes from everyday life—small, seemingly insignificant moments that hold emotional weight. Whether it's an abandoned space, the way light falls on a quiet street, or the raw intimacy of a portrait, I aim to create images that feel both deeply personal and universally resonant.

HUSHED NOISE: How does your cultural background or personal experiences influence your work?

Roey Qiu: My work is deeply influenced by my cultural background and personal experiences. As someone navigating different cultural spaces, I often feel like an observer—both within and outside of places, constantly shifting between perspectives. This sense of duality plays a significant role in my photography.

I often explore themes of displacement, belonging, and memory, inspired by my own experiences of movement and transition. The quiet tension between familiarity and distance is something I am drawn to visually—whether it's through muted color palettes, empty spaces, or the way people interact with their surroundings. I am also inspired by traditional aesthetics and visual storytelling techniques, blending them with contemporary influences to create work that feels layered and introspective.

HUSHED NOISE: Can you walk us through your creative process? How do you develop an idea into a finished piece?

Roey Qiu: My creative process is intuitive and often starts with a feeling or a fleeting moment that lingers in my mind. I usually begin by collecting visual references—photographs, paintings, or even film stills that capture the mood I want to convey. From there, I take a more observational approach, seeking out spaces, subjects, or light conditions that align with that emotion.

If I am working on a portrait series, I like to spend time with my subjects before even picking up the camera. I want to understand them, their body language, the way they exist in a space. This helps create images that feel natural and unforced.

Post-production is just as important as shooting. I use Adobe Photoshop and Lightroom not just for corrections, but as a tool to refine the atmosphere and visual tone. Editing allows me to enhance subtle details, whether it's through light manipulation, color grading, or texture, to ensure the final image carries the emotional weight I intended.

HUSHED NOISE: What themes or messages do you explore in your art, and why do they resonate with you?

Roey Qiu: My work often explores themes of identity, solitude, and emotional landscapes. I am drawn to capturing the tension between presence and absence, the quiet in-between moments that often go unnoticed. There is something compelling about the way light interacts with space, the way a fleeting expression can carry an entire story.

I also explore empowerment and vulnerability, particularly in portraiture. I want to capture people in a way that feels honest and unfiltered, showing them as they are rather than as they think they should be. This search for authenticity—whether in people or in places—is what drives my work.

HUSHED NOISE: What challenges do you face as an emerging artist, and how do you navigate them?

Roey Qiu: One of the biggest challenges is balancing creative freedom with practical limitations—whether it's financial constraints, accessibility to resources, or navigating the art world as an emerging artist. There is often an internal struggle between staying true to my artistic vision and adapting to external expectations.

To navigate this, I focus on building a sustainable creative practice—finding ways to produce work within my means while continuously evolving my artistic approach. I also seek out collaborations, exhibitions, and platforms that align with my values rather than trying to fit into spaces that don’t resonate with me.

Another challenge is self-doubt and creative blocks. Like many artists, I go through periods where I question my work, but I’ve learned to embrace these moments as part of the process. Taking breaks, seeking new inspirations, and stepping away from the pressure to constantly produce have helped me overcome these hurdles.

HUSHED NOISE: Are there any artists, movements, or experiences that have deeply influenced your work?

Roey Qiu: I draw inspiration from a wide range of artists and movements, particularly those that explore minimalism, emotional depth, and cinematic storytelling. Photographers like Rinko Kawauchi, Todd Hido, and Saul Leiter have greatly influenced my approach to color, light, and mood. Their ability to create atmosphere through subtle details is something I deeply admire.

I am also inspired by cinema, particularly films that use visual storytelling to evoke emotion—directors like Wong Kar-wai and Andrei Tarkovsky. Their use of framing, lighting, and color has shaped the way I think about composition and visual narrative in my own work.

HUSHED NOISE: How do you see your art evolving in the next few years?

Roey Qiu: I want to expand my work beyond still photography and explore mixed media, experimental techniques, and moving images. I’m interested in integrating elements like sound, video, and installation to create immersive experiences that extend beyond the traditional photographic format.

I also want to dive deeper into long-term projects, where I can explore themes over extended periods rather than just individual series. This could be through documentary work, conceptual storytelling, or collaborations that challenge me to approach photography in new ways.

HUSHED NOISE: What’s a recent project or piece that you’re particularly proud of, and why?

Roey Qiu: One project I’m particularly proud of involved trying to capture the shifting light of a sunrise, only to be met with an overcast day. Instead of forcing the original plan, I adapted, waited until sunset, and found a way to achieve the same soft glow in a completely different context. It was a simple but important reminder that photography isn’t just about control—it’s about being present, responsive, and willing to let the unexpected shape the work.

HUSHED NOISE: What role do you think social media and digital platforms play in shaping the opportunities for emerging artists today?

Roey Qiu: Social media has completely transformed the way artists connect with audiences and opportunities. It has removed many traditional barriers, allowing emerging artists to showcase work, build networks, and engage with a global audience without needing gallery representation.

However, I also recognize the challenges that come with digital exposure—the pressure to constantly produce, the fleeting nature of engagement, and the fine line between creative authenticity and algorithm-driven content. I see social media as a tool rather than a goal, using it to share my work on my own terms while maintaining a focus on deeper artistic growth.

HUSHED NOISE: If you could collaborate with any artist, past or present, who would it be and why?

Roey Qiu: I would love to collaborate with a filmmaker or installation artist to push the boundaries of how photography interacts with space and storytelling. Someone like Wong Kar-wai, who creates dreamlike visuals with rich emotional depth, or an installation artist who works with light, movement, and sound to create immersive experiences.

Photography is powerful on its own, but I believe it can be even more impactful when it interacts with other mediums. A collaboration like this would allow me to explore new ways of storytelling and challenge the way images are traditionally experienced.

Follow Roey Qiu’s work on Instagram at @roeyqiu_photo. For more, visit roeyphotography.com

Edited by Xeni R. Quine

Photographs by Roey Qiu