MICHÈLE: Here we are. This is a brand-new chapter and a deeply personal one. YDP is opening its doors to the public later this year. Talk us through the first glimmer of your vision to create a project space for artists.

YAN: It’s such an exciting new journey for me! As you know, it’s always been my passion to support artists directly. I enjoy working closely with them and feel inspired when I spend time with them.

I’ve often asked myself: what kind of impact can I make as a philanthropist? YDP grew out of this question. There is a lack of support for artists to take risks, to try something out and not worry about whether it works out the right way. So, I wanted to create a space where artists could slow down, reflect, and experiment, a place where they’re not rushed by expectations that have become the norm. YDP isn’t just about showcasing meaningful artworks. It’s about making room for the process of exploring new ideas.

MICHÈLE: Whereas Asymmetry has a clear remit to focus on curatorial research and knowledge production, YDP will be about nurturing artistic practices. Asymmetry’s imminent community are practitioners who identify with Chinese and Sinophone heritage, YDP will work with artists of diverse Asian and diasporic backgrounds. How has this development come about?

YAN: Supporting both artists and curators has always been at the heart of my philanthropic passion. I really believe the two go hand in hand – they strengthen each other when they’re in dialogue. Nurturing artistic practices goes beyond exhibition making but also means going on a wild ride with artists, and embracing all the twists and turns that come with experimentation. We’re interested in projects that challenge the definition of ‘art production,’ from interdisciplinary collaborations to experimental events.

It was important for me to first understand my own cultural context and connect with the wider Chinese and Sinophone art community, which is why I started Asymmetry. However, I share the lived experience with the Asian diaspora, having lived and moved across so many places. Bridging cultures and promoting transcultural dialogues has always been very important to me. That’s where YDP comes in. With YDP, I hope I will make space for conversations to happen, boundaries to be crossed, and new bonds to be formed in the global art community.

MICHÈLE: Community is truly at the heart of Asymmetry. What I find beautiful about YDP’s mission is that you call it a home for all artists of Asian backgrounds and that welcomes all. Who do you envision the new audience and community to be?

YAN: In my mind, I picture YDP’s community as caring, diverse, and curious. There will, of course, be overlap with our Asymmetry network – and I’m sure that crossover will spark all kinds of possibilities – but YDP will also have its own life: it’ll connect with local art and cultural communities in London, as well as people visiting from other parts of the world. In Bloomsbury, we’re surrounded by universities, research centres, and publishers, so I’m also hoping to welcome students, emerging artists, and young professionals from all kinds of disciplines. I’d like YDP to become a home for people from all backgrounds.

MICHÈLE: Across both ventures, everything we do is non-profit and comes from personal passion and conviction. Private patronage has become essential in today’s complex climate for the arts landscape.

YAN: Absolutely. Private patronage gives us the freedom to be more responsive to artists’ and curators’ ideas. For both Asymmetry and YDP, that kind of agility is key. Through these two ventures, I’m exploring how I can create impact as an art patron of a new generation.

How might my patronage look different? Why does my work as a philanthropist matter? For me, supporting art is not about my own ego. Instead, I hope for it to be intuitive, organic, thoughtful, collaborative, and rooted in care. With YDP, I’m continuing my journey to find a new model of supporting artistic practices and research as a new approach to philanthropy.

MICHÈLE: You remain our North Star when it comes to Asymmetry’s development and growth, and you are all hands-on-deck at YDP. Then there’s your much beloved art collection. How do you do it all?

YAN: I ask myself the same question every morning! Some days I feel like I’m running three marathons at once. Asymmetry, my private collection and now YDP are separate, each with its own team. However, they resonate with each other and are guided by the same spirit. I’m incredibly lucky to be surrounded by amazing colleagues who feel more like friends. We care for one another and work collaboratively. We reflect on art and how we can contribute meaningfully to the cultural landscape but will also chat about star signs or enjoy good food. That shared energy keeps me going.

MICHÈLE: I’d like to conclude with a few words about how wondrous this journey has been with you. From our first conversation all these years ago about how we want to support this new identity of Chinese diasporic practitioners in the making, to becoming a household name for our wonderful network of talents globally, to seeing you setting sail with YDP – I’m truly excited for all of us for what’s to come.