"Flesh in Stone" from 2013 is a part of the Body Collection by the artist. For Yu, the body is an important yet obscure part of her work. The exhibition In One's Skin is a systematic demonstration of her sculptures of the body in recent years. In the artworks, Yu deliberately downplays the physical traits of the body. She does not focus on physical details nor does she aim for preciseness in human anatomy. Rather, she explores the energy of the body with more general language, concentrating on the basics or the essence. To artists, to make art is both physical labor and also a kind of exploration. More importantly, making art gives the artist personal feeling of being "in one's skin".
Yu has set aside rationality and preserved simple materials and form by working "in one's skin". The body that is missing both arms or the mutilated body leaves behind certain gaps, while viewers are free to fill in the gap with their own imagination. Therefore, viewers are encouraged by the artwork to reflect upon their own lives. Just as Yu mentioned in her artist's statement, "The body is mutilated. If mutilation of the body comes from the flesh, then the flesh may have a life of its own, and the mutilation may carry meaning as a result."
By working with materials and sculpting, Yu explores the relationships between the environment, life, time, and the self. She was able to find herself and art by integrating materials, time, physical labor, and beauty.
