Qintong Yu is a digital illustration artist who uses her works to explore the modern state of personhood. In a world increasingly preoccupied with self-definition, Yu’s works explore the tensions inherent in the construction of identity, from the collective or social self - shaped by affiliations with broader groups, such as nationalities, religious communities, cultures, and social organisations - to the individual’s perception of the self in the present moment, encompassing physical appearance, personal habits, and perceived personality traits. Through this exploration, Yu examines the turmoil underlying the process of self-definition, as well as the inherent paradox of trying to establish a fixed sense of identity amid perpetual human development and transformation.

She has developed a distinctive style which occupies the border of surrealism and abstraction. She constructs figures and environments from simplified forms, building them layer by layer with restricted palettes to form her compositions. The series Fragments and Reconstruction exemplifies this style; the fragmented scenes are grounded in a limited colour palette of greys, oranges, and teals, allowing the image's visual impact to linger within the disjointed forms. Her style is also underlined by a series of repeated motifs - fragmentary shapes, natural shapes and subtly abstracted figures - which carry through artworks, creating a developing collective.

Yu also addresses the dissonance between internal reality and external expectations and how this continues to shape one's identity and experience of the world. Her works explore the dual identity that many people craft in response to continual outside pressures, while attempting to keep the true self safe. The fragmentary motifs and limited yet contrasting colour palettes in Fragments and Reconstruction highlight the dissonance between the internal and external self she explores, while compositions guide the eye around the piece, never allowing it to settle, aligning the viewer's experience with the chaotic scene depicted. Fragments and Reconstruction also creates a physical metaphor for this process of self-definition. While other works such as Veil of Becoming examine the factors that can affect one's self-identification, Fragments and Reconstruction acts as both an internal reflection and a mirror for the viewer, allowing for personal reflection.

Yu’s oeuvre has one core message; the self is not static, nor is it singular. It constantly evolves through internal and external factors. It is a myriad of selves: some others see, some are left behind as one grows, and some remain internal and personal. Her work sits at the intersection of self-expression and universal introspection, creating deeply relatable images that reflect the human experience while drawing on her own life experiences.