"I see the ordinary as a kind of decentralized language, one that shifts away from grand narratives and instead focuses on the subtle details of daily life. It's about discovering that these small things are also worth paying attention to. That has been my biggest motivation," he says.
Yan didn't just stop at his camera. He also turned the tools of modern life, apps and digital platforms into new ways of seeing. For instance, ride-hailing payments revealed the playful alter egos of drivers behind the wheel. One encounter, in particular, stuck with him.
It began with a taxi ride. As Yan went to scan the payment code, the gruff, stubble-faced driver turned around, only for his phone to flash the man's online alias "Little Star", complete with twinkling emojis.
The contrast between the weathered face and the whimsical nickname struck Yan.
"There was something quietly rebellious about it," he recalls.
That moment sparked his idea of documenting these tiny digital identities people create for themselves.
Soon, Yan and his girlfriend turned every taxi ride into a treasure hunt for the most revealing nicknames. There was the no-nonsense "Pay Before Exiting", the mysterious "Who Am I?" and "Ultimate Beauty".
