Huiyu Lan on Intuition, Liminality, and the Art of Translation

In an interview with Contemporary Art Issue, curator Huiyu Lan (Lana) discusses her unconventional path from scenography at Beijing's Central Academy of Drama to curating at the Royal College of Art. She founded Purist Gallery in London in December 2024, opening with 'My Favourite Colour is Transparency.' The gallery has since mounted shows including Ted Le Swer's 'Soft Exit' (November 2025). Lan emphasizes intuition over theory, drawing on Lacanian psychoanalysis, Taoist wu, and Buddhist śūnyatā. Her ongoing research project 'Paradoxical Field' explores liminality, inspired by memories of her grandparents' home. Lan has collaborated with over one hundred emerging artists through Purist Culture, which also includes Purist Magazine and educational initiatives. She reveals that her long-standing study of Chinese metaphysics, geomancy, and divination traditions remains in the background but may surface through writing or performance. Looking ahead, Purist Gallery plans a summer exhibition addressing AI ethics, informed by scholars Alessandro Perrella and Alexey Turchin. Lan describes curating as a form of translation, transforming abstract experience into tangible environments.