Images have the power to convey messages and emotions that words alone cannot express. “Everyone approaches the works with their subjective memories and experiences, and a successful painting should be open enough to describe everything and nothing all at once.” While a single image may not suffice to convey a complete narrative, the contrast between abstract and realistic imagery is closely linked to the viewer's perception. The distinction between an abstract and realistic image has everything to do with the mind of the being looking at it. The usage of some utterly mundane, boring, and unworkable objects and photos, and then revealed their significance by adding layers to them. So that each layer being added moves the image further away from reality, blurs it, and buries the original image in semi-opaque layers of color and texture.
For the book design project titled "Life in a Day," Yuan aimed to capture the complexity of memories associated with ordinary or commonplace objects and images. As written in the book, "scenes from the past are like broken pieces, and they feel like they relive it all in an instant." The layered and blurred approach employed adds depth and nuance to the images, creating a sense of fading and decay that emphasizes the fleeting nature of memory and the dimension of time. Colors and objects serve as symbols and signifiers, providing the viewer with a way to connect with the scenes depicted in the book and enabling the audience to establish their emotional connection to the objects.