Yan FANG (方言, ファン・ヤン) is a curator, art historian, and writer based in Shanghai. She holds a B.A. in Aesthetics (Arts and Culture) and an M.A. in History of Art (specializing in History of Art and Philosophy) from the Paris I Panthéon-Sorbonne University. Fang previously worked at the Musée National d'Art Moderne/Centre Pompidou, where she contributed to research, acquisition, and curatorial aspects in both the Research & Globalization Department and the New Media Department. From 2020 to 2025, she served as a curator at the UCCA Center for Contemporary Art in China. Fang is a fellow of the Asian Cultural Council.
In her practice, Fang proposes approaches to shaping modes of perception and alternative narratives in art history. Her recent research examines the cross-regional translations and interactions of avant-garde art movements, including Fluxus, as well as the cultural connections between urban memories and video, sound, and performance-based art, particularly in East Asia. Her work explores the transformative potential of art amidst global transitions and its influence on the dynamics of everyday life.
Fang has curated and co-curated various exhibitions and projects, including “Slow Revolution” (Goethe-Institut, Shanghai, 2025), “Pipilotti Rist: Your Palm is My Universe”(UCCA, Beijing, 2025), “Dream Time” (UCCA, Beijing, 2024), “Optimized Heart: David Douard/Liu Shiyuan” (UCCA Dune, Beidaihe, 2023), “Common Ground: UCCA 15th Anniversary Patrons Collection Exhibition” (UCCA, Beijing, 2022), “The Rearview Landscape, or a Trip of Ownership” (UCCA Dune, Beidaihe, 2021), “Liu Xiaodong: Your Friends” (UCCA Edge, Shanghai, 2021; UCCA, Beijing, 2022), “Drifting Realities: The Archipelago of Food Discourses” (UCCA, Beijing, 2020), and “Cookbook of the Pandemic Year” (2020). Her writings have been featured in publications such as Artforum, ArtReview Asia, LEAP Magazine, and other platforms.