Hsin-yi (Julia)
Location
San Francisco, USA
About
Julia Hsin-yi Yang, born in 1983, is an adjunct assistant professor at the Graduate Institute of Applied Arts, Tainan National University of the Arts. She is also a coordinator for the international residency program at the Yingge Ceramics Museum in Taiwan and is a UNESCO-affiliated member of the International Academy of Ceramics (AIC-IAC) since 2019.
Yang earned a Ph.D. in Visual Arts (Ceramics) from the Australian National University and holds a master's degree from Taiwan National University of the Arts. Her artistic focus lies in exploring the fusion of ceramics production processes with playful creativity, primarily through object-oriented and installation-based works. Yang actively involves her audience, emphasizing interaction as a means of communication and exchange.
Artist Statement
From Process to Participation: Engaging Audiences through Ceramic Art
My ceramic art emphasizes the power of process—embracing repetition, experimentation, and the surprises that come with it. For me, the act of making holds deeper meaning than the finished product, offering moments of joy, discovery, and connection.
This approach became central to my practice and flourished during a 2019 project at the Yingge Ceramics Museum. Inspired by Taiwanese banquet culture, I replaced traditional food with ceramic objects and interactive elements, inviting playful audience participation. This marked a turning point, leading to my Viewers’ Participation Series, where audiences became co-creators through activities like hanging, throwing, or gluing pieces.
Most recently, my work has explored ritual-like gestures, such as choosing stones for messages or making wishes with coins, blending art with spirituality. These projects demonstrate ceramics’ unique potential to foster personal reflection, communal connection, and new ways of engaging with art.