Born in 1966, Yu Likwai is a Chinese filmmaker and photographer who lives and works in Beijing. His directorial feature films include Love Will Tear Us Apart (1999, In Competition Cannes Film Festival), All Tomorrow’s Parties (2003, Cannes Film Festival Un Certain Regard) and Plastic City (2008, In Competition Venice Film Festival). 

During his 18-year career as a cinematographer, he has shot all of Jia Zhangke’s films to date, and has worked with Ann Hui and Lou Ye, amongst others. Yu was awarded numerous international prizes, including: Best Cinematography, Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award (2008), Best Cinematography, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria International Film Festival (2004).

As a photographer, Yu’s work shows a strong cinematic accent. Operating in the gap between sensation fiction and documentary fact, between slick scenario and fresh perception, they deliver strong hints at narrative subtexts.

Yu’s photographs are in the permanent collection of M+, the new innovative museum in Hong Kong and Tokyo Metropolitan Museum of Photography.