Asymmetry supports curators and researchers with Chinese and Sinophone backgrounds through fellowships, scholarships, public programmes, research, and a specialist library.We promote meaningful exchange between creative practitioners, institutions, and publics to enable generative research, collaboration, and participation. Through five core activities—curatorial fellowships, academic scholarships, public programmes, research, and a specialist library—we offer career-enhancing opportunities while strengthening visibility for curators and researchers who remain underrepresented in the arts and cultural sector. By building partnerships with institutions, art spaces, and universities, we work to expand the landscape of curatorial practice and academic research, contributing to more equitable, inclusive and plural futures for contemporary art. Launched in 2020 by Yan Du, philanthropist and patron of the arts, Asymmetry is an independent non-profit organisation based in London.
Yan is a London-based arts philanthropist from China. For over fifteen years, Yan has been supporting artists and institutions through her philanthropic work. Her personal collection, YDC, includes a broad range of works that span the arc of the twentieth century to present. In 2020, Yan founded her non-profit foundation, Asymmetry, where she continues to be a Trustee. Asymmetry supports a new generation of Chinese and Sinophone curators through professional and scholarly placements in partnership with public institutions and runs a research-led public programme at their East London studio space. Her philanthropic efforts are furthered with the launch of YDP in 2025. Sparked by Yan's passion to directly support artistic practices, YDP is an independent, non-profit project space dedicated to providing opportunities for artists of diverse Asian backgrounds and diasporic experiences. Based in Bloomsbury, London, it will host a varied programme of exhibitions, artist residencies, site-specific commissions and artist-led experiments.
Yan is a London-based arts philanthropist from China. For over fifteen years, Yan has been supporting artists and institutions through her philanthropic work. Her personal collection, YDC, includes a broad range of works that span the arc of the twentieth century to present. In 2020, Yan founded her non-profit foundation, Asymmetry, where she continues to be a Trustee. Asymmetry supports a new generation of Chinese and Sinophone curators through professional and scholarly placements in partnership with public institutions and runs a research-led public programme at their East London studio space. Her philanthropic efforts are furthered with the launch of YDP in 2025. Sparked by Yan's passion to directly support artistic practices, YDP is an independent, non-profit project space dedicated to providing opportunities for artists of diverse Asian backgrounds and diasporic experiences. Based in Bloomsbury, London, it will host a varied programme of exhibitions, artist residencies, site-specific commissions and artist-led experiments.
Michèle joined Asymmetry at its founding in 2020 as Deputy Director and became Director in 2023. She leads the organisation’s strategy, programming, and partnerships and oversees its public programme in East London. She regularly contributes to contemporary art and cultural discourse as well as panels and lectures internationally.
Before joining Asymmetry, Michèle was Programme Director at Gallery Weekend Beijing, where she devised and led the platform’s frame programme, and previously worked at Mai 36 Galerie in Zurich on exhibition projects across Europe and China. She studied History of Art and English at the University of Zurich and holds a postgraduate degree in History of Art, specialising in Contemporary Chinese Art and Geopolitics, from the Courtauld Institute of Art, London.
Michèle joined Asymmetry at its founding in 2020 as Deputy Director and became Director in 2023. She leads the organisation’s strategy, programming, and partnerships and oversees its public programme in East London. She regularly contributes to contemporary art and cultural discourse as well as panels and lectures internationally.
Before joining Asymmetry, Michèle was Programme Director at Gallery Weekend Beijing, where she devised and led the platform’s frame programme, and previously worked at Mai 36 Galerie in Zurich on exhibition projects across Europe and China. She studied History of Art and English at the University of Zurich and holds a postgraduate degree in History of Art, specialising in Contemporary Chinese Art and Geopolitics, from the Courtauld Institute of Art, London.