We were lucky to catch up with Lin Wang recently and have shared our conversation below.
Lin, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?
In the first begining, Squeeze Sour is only a distribution project ,which inspired by one of my friends who does a delivery job while still making photo books in China. Due to censorship and the cultural environment, self-publishing in China has become increasingly challenging, with fewer supporters. Squeeze Sour gathers China-based creators who rarely have the opportunity to express themselves. Our mission is to showcase to a wider audience and also bring some fresh air to the US self-publisher community. Despite the constraints of our mundane world, I believe the tang of the squeezing process yields bittersweet yet rewarding outcomes.
Lin, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
As the founder of Squeeze Sour, I discovered my deep passion for artist bookmaking during my MFA studies in Fine Art. I wanted to start a project related to self-published photo books, and I realized that no one was specifically bringing self-published photography books from mainland China—especially by photographers without U.S. educational backgrounds—into the U.S. market. Inspired by a friend of mine who worked as a delivery person but still found time to make books, I founded Squeeze Sour to focus on distributing these unique works, which don’t always receive worldwide attention .
However, I realized that photo books, while fascinating, have a very niche audience and are somewhat limited in scope. This motivated me to take a step further and create a side project: Squeeze Sour’s self-publishing initiative, linlin Plum. This experimental venture aims to push the boundaries of what an artist’s book can be and who is capable of creating one. My goal with linlin Plum is to make artist books accessible not only to those already immersed in the art world but also to everyday people, like my mother, who may not be familiar with or interested in art. I want her—and others like her—to feel empowered to create their own artist books, even using photos from their phone albums or personal memories.
In essence, my work bridges two worlds: first, by introducing self-published photography books from a China-based perspective, which is largely absent from the U.S. market, and second, by expanding the definition of what an artist book can be, making it more inclusive and accessible to a broader audience.
Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?
Earlier this year, one of the largest photography publishing companies in China faced a major setback when its founder was incarcerated, causing significant challenges for the industry. I recognized that, in such an environment, fewer people would be motivated to create their own books. This situation inspired me to continue with Squeeze Sour and pivot slightly towards some self-publishing projects. I decided to focus on amplifying voices outside the mainstream, even if it meant making a small contribution. My goal was to bring more diverse perspectives to the forefront, offering an alternative to the growing restrictions on independent publishing.
What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?
The most rewarding aspect of being an artist or creative for me is the moments when I attend book fairs, and people flip through the books we showcase, telling me how much they love them. When they express that they feel a connection with the artist and describe the books as something truly special, it gives me a tremendous sense of fulfillment and motivation to keep going. It’s deeply empowering to know that the project can amplify different voices and communicate what I want to express. Additionally, I appreciate how flexible art projects can be—they can intersect with fields like sociology, anthropology, and beyond, which keeps the process exciting and dynamic.
Contact Info:
Image Credits
Yue Wu
Lin Wang
Tung Lin Tsai