March 21 2025
Lorraine Han(Left), Dan Yang(Right)
Inside Daydream—
Interview with the co-founders of Unveil Gallery, Lorraine Han and Dan Yang
On curating introspective experiences, blurring the line between reality and imagination, and inviting audiences into open-ended conversations.
Guest Lorraine Han & Dan Yang from Unveil Gallery Interviewer Rachel Wang from DART Magazine
Editor Yuchen Hou & Livia Xie e
Rachel: Hi Han and Yang, it’s a pleasure to speak with you. Before we dive into our conversation, I’d like to first thank you for taking the time for this interview. Daydream is coming to an end in just a week—how has the exhibition gone so far? Could you share more about the themes it explores and how the audience has responded? Were there any particularly memorable moments or reactions that stood out to you?
Han: Thanks Rachel, It’s been an incredible journey seeing Daydream unfold. From the start, this exhibition was conceived as a space for introspection—where the boundaries between reality and imagination blur. But beyond that, it also explores the ways people seek to escape from reality—whether through material pursuits, social engagement, idealized beauty, or even the dream world itself.
Image Courtesy of Unveil Gallery
For example, Christopher Cosnowski’s paintings examine consumerism, where material status is often used to define success. Mary Henderson’s works offer a perspective on individuals navigating social settings, capturing how engagement with others can become an escape. Wang Weijue is an artist who explores society's obsession with conventional beauty standards, love, and lust through her meticulously crafted needle-felted wool pieces, which strikingly replicate everyday sleep accessories. Meanwhile, Tian Yuanyuan’s work takes inspiration from The Peony Pavilion, a classic Chinese tale where a woman falls in love with a man in her dream while wandering through a beautiful garden—an ultimate form of dreamlike escapism.
It’s been incredibly rewarding to see how audiences connect with these themes, often sharing their own interpretations and reflections. One particularly memorable moment was hearing from two visitors who are therapists, who found Li Nianxin’s Narcisso deeply compelling, as it draws from the Greek myth of Narcissus to explore self-perception and identity. Despite the different mediums and artistic approaches, every work in Daydream carries echoes of something both deeply personal and universally resonant. That kind of emotional connection is what makes this exhibition so special.
Rachel: This exhibition features seven artists, making it the largest group show Unveil Gallery has presented so far. What were your curatorial considerations and ambitions in bringing their works together? With such a diverse group of artists, how did you approach creating a cohesive yet dynamic dialogue between their works? Were there specific ideas or contrasts you wanted to highlight in the curation?
Han & Yang: Curating a group show of this scale was both exciting and challenging. With Daydream, we wanted to create a sense of fluidity—where each artist’s work felt distinct yet interconnected, like fragments of a collective reverie.
Instead of forcing a rigid thematic structure, we embraced a more organic approach—allowing contrast to emerge naturally. Some artists engaged with materiality in unexpected ways, while others leaned into narrative or storytelling. The key was finding those subtle connections: the way one work’s quiet stillness could offset another’s dynamic energy, or how different mediums could create layers of meaning when placed in dialogue with one another. By weaving together these diverse approaches, Daydream invites viewers to navigate different modes of perception, all contributing to a broader conversation on how we construct and escape reality.
Rachel: Unveil Gallery is situated in Irvine, which hasn’t historically had a strong contemporary art presence. What has it been like establishing Unveil in this context? How have you engaged with the local audience, and in what ways has Irvine’s unique cultural landscape shaped your approach?
Han & Yang: Bringing Unveil to Irvine was a conscious decision. While LA has a thriving contemporary art scene, there was a gap in Orange County for an experimental, concept-driven gallery space. The challenge was not just introducing contemporary art but also fostering a new kind of engagement—one that feels accessible yet thought-provoking.
The response has been overwhelmingly positive. We’ve seen audiences who may not typically visit galleries come in and feel welcomed. Our programming—whether through our opening receptions, curated guided tours, artist talks, panel discussions, or interactive elements—has been key to building that relationship. Irvine has a unique cultural diversity, and that’s reflected in our approach. We aim to create a space that’s both international in outlook and locally grounded, where different perspectives can converge.
Lorraine Han(Right), Dan Yang(Left)
Rachel: Han, You have a background in finance and have lived in multiple places, including the UK, Singapore, and Shanghai, China. What led you to transition from finance to the art world, and how has your diverse academic and professional experience influenced the way you run Unveil Gallery?
Han: My transition from finance to the arts wasn’t a sudden leap but rather a gradual realization. I’ve always been drawn to art, and over time, I felt a strong pull toward curatorial work—particularly in creating spaces that encourage deeper engagement with artistic practices.
My background in finance has been invaluable in running the gallery. Understanding market dynamics, structuring sustainable models, and thinking strategically have all played a role in shaping Unveil. But beyond that, having lived in different cultural contexts has given me a broader perspective. It’s helped me see art not just as an object of admiration but as a conversation—a bridge between histories, geographies, and ideas.
Image courtesy of Unveil Gallery, work by Marry Henderson
Rachel: Hi Yang, I learned that besides being a gallery co-founder, you are also a formally trained artist. How does this dual identity influence your approach to curation and artist collaborations at Unveil Gallery?
Working together as co-founders must be an evolving process. How do you and Han complement each other in shaping Unveil’s direction? Have there been moments where your perspectives differed, and how do you find common ground while maintaining a shared vision for the gallery?
Yang: Stepping into the role of a gallery co-founder has been both an exciting and challenging transition. My background as an artist gives me a deep sensitivity to creative expression, allowing me to connect with artists on an intuitive level and engage with their work in a way that feels both personal and immersive. Running a gallery has expanded my perspective—it’s no longer just about viewing art, but about understanding the broader context of an artist’s practice. Visiting studios has become one of the most rewarding aspects of this journey, offering insights that go beyond aesthetics into the intentions and processes behind the work. This shift in perspective has encouraged me to approach curation with greater openness, embracing diverse voices and artistic practices while fostering meaningful collaborations.
We feel incredibly fortunate to have each other as co-founders at Unveil Gallery. Together, we’ve navigated the challenges of building a young art space in Irvine, celebrating milestones that have shaped our vision and deepened our commitment to the artists and community we support.
Our partnership is rooted in mutual trust and a shared commitment to continuous learning. As we develop each exhibition, we adapt and refine our approach, always challenging ourselves to push the gallery’s vision forward. Naturally, we have moments where our perspectives differ, but these differences become opportunities for deeper dialogue rather than obstacles. What keeps us aligned is our ability to listen, support, and challenge each other with the same goal in mind—creating a space that feels dynamic, thoughtful, and artist-driven. This process of learning and evolving together has been one of the most rewarding aspects of our collaboration.
Image courtesy of Unveil Gallery, work by Christopher Cosnowski
Rachel: Unveil Gallery has explored themes such as perception, materiality, and the relationship between humans and their surroundings. How does the gallery approach these topics in a unique way? When curating, do you consciously think about how to make an exhibition more thought-provoking? If so, what strategies do you use to achieve that? As a curator, what do you prioritize most—the works themselves, the overarching theme, or the relationship between the works and the audience?
Han: Every exhibition at Unveil begins with a question rather than a definitive answer. Instead of presenting a fixed narrative, we aim to create open-ended experiences—ones that invite curiosity, interpretation, and deeper engagement.
We collaborate with artists who push the boundaries of form and meaning. For example, Xue Fei uses sand as a base for her fantastical, whimsical oil paintings, while Catherine Menard transforms found objects into large-scale immersive installations. Alisa Ochoa crafts hyper-realistic ceramic fruit rattles, turning the ordinary into something uncanny and thought-provoking. These diverse approaches challenge conventional mediums, expanding how we perceive and interact with art.
Beyond the works themselves, spatial arrangement plays a crucial role. How a viewer moves through the space, the pacing between works, and the interplay of elements like music, light, and shadow—all of these shape the experience in subtle yet powerful ways.
Ultimately, the priority is the connection between the works and the audience. I want visitors to feel a sense of discovery, to leave with more questions than they arrived with. That, to me, is what makes an exhibition truly thought-provoking.
Image courtesy of Unveil Gallery, work by Ann Liu
Image Courtesy of Unveil Gallery
Rachel: Unveil Gallery is open to diverse artistic expressions, from painting to performance-based works. Given this openness, does the gallery also engage with fields beyond the arts, such as education, technology, or cultural institutions? Can you share more about recent interdisciplinary collaborations?
Han & Yang: Yes, interdisciplinary collaboration is at the heart of Unveil’s vision. We believe that art doesn’t exist in isolation—it intersects with social issues, education, and other disciplines in meaningful ways.
We’ve actively engaged in collaborations beyond the arts, such as working with non-profit organizations like Orange County United Way to support their philanthropic initiatives for women and minority groups. Through our Summer Guest Program, we’ve also partnered with independent curators and organizations like CAAN, bringing in fresh perspectives and diverse curatorial voices. These initiatives expand our reach and introduce new ways of thinking about art.
Looking ahead, we see Unveil evolving beyond the traditional gallery model—becoming more of a cultural hub where art serves as a catalyst for broader conversations across disciplines.
Rachel: With Daydream coming to an end, another exhibition is on the way. Would you like to share some details? What should people look forward to the most, and how will it differ from Daydream?
Han: Yes! We have an exciting show lined up. While Daydream was about introspection and liminality, the next exhibition will be a solo exhibition. Without revealing too much just yet, I can say that we’re working with the artist who challenge perception in unexpected ways. It will be a shift in tone, but with the same commitment to depth and engagement.
Rachel: Before we wrap up, do you have any advice or reflections for emerging artists or curators navigating their own paths?
Han & Yang: The art world can feel overwhelming, but I believe that clarity of vision is everything. Stay curious, trust your instincts, and don’t be afraid to carve your own space.
For artists, the most compelling works come from an authentic place—so resist the pressure to fit into trends. For curators, ask yourself what conversations you want to spark, and who you are doing it for. And most importantly, be open to evolution. Art, like life, is a constant process of reimagining.
Guest Lorraine Han & Dan Yang from Unveil Gallery Interviewer Rachel Wong from DART Magazine
Editor Yuchen Hou & Livia Xie e
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