Week 1
First Day of Internship (9.29.25)
Today I had a one-hour meeting with Julia. She is so nice!! She shared with me some of her recent exhibitions and also talked about what she hopes I can contribute during the internship.
At the beginning of our conversation, I asked her about something I noticed in her work: most of her pieces seem to come from pain and loss, while my own work is usually colorful and joyful. I asked her which she thought was more powerful.
She answered that everyone has a “little monster” inside their soul. Joy is part of our emotions, but loss and pain come from trauma, which leads to reflection. Julia said that she tries to communicate her own reflections in a way that people can relate to.
She also mentioned something that struck me deeply, that
“If I need to be educated to understand your art, then your art has failed.”
For her, art should not be something too lofty or measured by money. It should not be confined to labels or created solely to fit the market, make more money, or gain entry into the biggest museums.
She said there is always a difference between Market vs. Art. Making art doesn’t mean people need to like it. What matters is whether they can feel the emotions inside. Art is like a conversation; you don’t need to agree with what I say, but you stand there and try to understand my perspective.
Once you step fully into the market, it becomes harder to do what you truly want. For her, the most important thing is connecting with people and connecting with ideas. She compared it to entering a church: you go in because you are curious about other people’s lives and their stories.
This conversation was very powerful for me. I have always wanted to be a famous artist and sell my art around the world. I know this dream is not wrong, but Julia’s words shaped my understanding of what art really means. They reminded me to focus more on the essence of my work, on why I paint, and on what I want to express, rather than on how many people are going to like it or how much influence it might have.
I am very excited about the next adventure with Julia!!
10.03.2025
Today was my first day visiting Julia’s studio, and it was the first time I finally met Julia in person. It was truly an incredible day.
When I first entered the studio, Julia showed me how the small objects she collects from the streets inspire her work and add deeper meaning to her art. She believes in the healing power of nature, that nature itself carries the ability to restore and connect people.
After that, we started brainstorming for her upcoming exhibition in July, which will be about the concept of “home and children.” It was a very powerful concept. We taped a huge sheet of white paper on the wall, just like detectives mapping out clues, and began marking all the elements that might be included for the exhibitions. Julia explained to me the symbolism and importance behind each one. Through this process, I truly felt that art has no limits. It taught me how imagination can gradually take form and become real. Which I always want to learned.
At noon, Julia invited me to her home for lunch with her family. (CRAZY!!) On the way there, I got to experience her “local” Italian driving, very thrilling and fun! During the drive, she shared many stories about her creative journey. She told me that she never planned to become an artist as a child; it was around her twenties when she fell deeply in love with this way of expressing herself, and she has kept going ever since. Her understanding of art really encouraged me: she said that being an artist isn’t about what degree you have or if you went to the art school or not, but how honestly you can express your heart. That hit me really strongly, because I have always struggled about in today’s world, how people see degrees as the representation of success. Those conversations in the car with her just gave me more confidence to express my heart in my future work.
Lunch at her home felt like something out of a dream! My first time experiencing Italian local dining. One funny moment I’ll never forget was when a big bowl of fruit was served after the meal grabbed a pear and was about to bite into it, just like I usually do back in the U.S., when I suddenly noticed everyone else calmly taking out small knives from under their plates. They began peeling and slicing their fruit into elegant, bite-sized pieces. Silly me, I tried to follow their way, but quickly realized I had no idea how to peel a pear properly with a knife. Julia eventually stepped in to help me, laughing as she said I looked a little too dangerous with it.
After lunch, we returned to the studio and finally started working with the clay! Something I had been looking forward to. We shaped broken hands and feet, freely and intuitively. Julia told me there’s no skill to make the clay, just follow your feelings. I loved that approach; it reminded me again that art has no rules, no fixed frame.
Overall! Today felt both dreamy and deeply meaningful. Experiencing an artist’s daily life up close helped me see how gentle and thoughtful Julia truly is, quite different from the powerful and mysterious energy of her work. I feel so so so grateful for this day and everything I learned.
Week 2
10.08.2025 & 10.10.2025
This week, I had a real and meaningful conversation with Julia that changed how I think about being an artist. I used to see the word "artist" as something beautiful and proud, a title full of creativity and success. But Julia shared a different side of it. For her, being an artist also means living with uncertainty and sometimes struggling to make a living. She told me that we shouldn’t try to become artists just for the title, but to create honestly from what we truly feel. What she said really stayed with me and made me think about why I create that art, which should come from honesty, not from wanting recognition.
While working with her, I also noticed how open she is when it comes to ideas. I usually start by thinking about what’s possible, but she lets every idea come out first before worrying about if it can be done. I really admire that attitude; it shows how much she respects imagination and trusts the process. It reminded me not to limit myself too early and to give my ideas more freedom to grow.
Week 3
10/20,10/22,10/24
This week, I spent a lot of time with Julia and the more I know her, the more I am inspired by her. We did many things together this week, most of them involving creative thinking. We spent hours discussing her upcoming performance in Milan this December, and also her exhibition for next year’s Easter about Jesus on the cross.
By spending time with her, I could observe how she moves from thinking to creating and how she turns something completely abstract into reality. I love being part of her imagination. It makes me feel free, reminding me not to be limited by the boundaries this world tries to set. “I learned that it’s important to let my thoughts grow freely, without limiting them too early.” On Friday, we worked with clay together. That’s my favorite activity with her, because we can talk while making things, we talked about her past, her stories, and her ideas. I also shared some of my artworks with her. Even though it was just three days, I felt she reminded me of so many important things.
I love her honesty so much. She doesn’t wear makeup or try to hide anything. The way she expresses herself feels pure and unworldly. Even when she says she doesn’t like seeing her face getting older, she still allows herself to be seen as she is. Just like her works and her character, she’s always ready to let people see her story, no matter how dark or painful it might be.
To me, she is very beautiful; her beauty comes from her heart, her openness, and her graceful way of being. All of that shows through her appearance, and even goes beyond it.
Talking with her also reminded me of the importance of being real. As someone who loves painting, I often think about how to make my work likable to others, but I forgot that only things that come from truth have real power. I want to be like Julia, to create works that have strength, not by denying my thoughts, but by accepting and communicating them.
Julia reminded me that we don’t need to be perfect. In both art and life, the goal is not to gain approval from others, but to live truthfully. Because being real is far more powerful than being perfect.
​Week 4
10/29
This week I was traveling in Milan and Venice, so I only had one remote workday at home. During that day, I continued working on the children’s drawings that Julia collected. My task was to use Adobe Illustrator to separate the illustrations into different layers based on their colors.
Even though I’ve always loved working with colors, this process made me see them in a new way. I realized that what looks like the same color at first glance can actually have many tiny differences. It was quite challenging but also satisfying to balance between keeping the children’s natural brushstrokes and organizing everything clearly in layers.
Even though it was just one day of work, I learned a lot about patience and paying attention to details. It also reminded me how much beauty can be found in small variations that we usually overlook.
Week 5
11/5,11/7
This week, Julia was still in Milan for work, so both of my internship days were done remotely. I continued working on ten children’s drawings for her future exhibition, separating their colors and beautiful lines into something ready for her show.
During our online meeting, Julia shared her worries about how to suspend her large parachute installation for next year’s exhibition. I loved listening to her thoughts and imagining possible solutions together. Even through the screen, her way of thinking always inspires me, how she faces challenges not with frustration, but with curiosity and honesty.
This Friday was also her birthday. She invited me to celebrate with her and her friends at a midnight club, my very first time going to a club in Italy! The space was crowded, full of laughter and light, but somehow it still felt warm. I felt happy and honored to be there, celebrating someone who has taught me so much not only about art, but also about pure honesty.
Week 6
11/10,11/12
This week at Julia’s studio was very meaningful, and I learned a lot. On Monday, Julia invited me to sit in on her class. Listening to her talk through each group’s work, what they did well, and what could be improved was really inspiring. Seeing how much she enjoys teaching made me think that maybe one day I could also become an art teacher, someone who can pass on what I know.
There was also a small incident during Wednesday’s internship session. One of Julia’s exhibition contracts ran into a problem, and she was feeling disappointed and frustrated. After hearing the full story, I realized again how challenging it is to be an artist, especially someone like her who manages everything on her own. But at the same time, I felt very proud of how strong she is!!! She taught me a Himalayan breathing technique that day. We sat on the floor for about 30 minutes, practicing how to calm ourselves through breathing and listening to our own sound and the sound of nature instead of the noise around us. I really liked it. After the exercise, I actually felt different and lighter, and we came up with more exhibition ideas. Later, Julia also talked to the exhibition contact, and the conversation went smoothly.
Being able to watch something go from a difficult moment to a good resolution, from how she managed her emotions to how she encouraged herself, was a big lesson for me.
It was a full and meaningful week!!!
Week 7
11/17,11/21
This week, I spent a lot of time with Julia working on the clay pieces for her exhibition. From sculpting hands to eventually creating masks, I realized that the biggest thing I’ve learned is how to bring “observation” into my daily life. At first, I didn’t think too much about it, but step by step, I began paying closer attention, really studying how a hand curves, how a face carries structure, and why, even with the same five features, billions of people in this world can still look completely different. I found that endlessly fascinating.
While working on the clay, Julia and I also had a long conversation. She told me that one of her close friends watched her performance and told her very directly that he didn’t think it was “art.” I was surprised by how direct that comment was, so I asked Julia how she personally approaches “compliment” versus “criticism.”
Since I grew up drawing, compliments about my artwork became something I unconsciously relied on; they shaped the way I saw my own work. But I also know that if I let other people’s opinions become my goal, or part of my identity, it will become a big stone blocking my growth and preventing me from finding my own voice.
The difficult part is figuring out which comments I should listen to and which ones I shouldn’t let affect me. Julia shared that it took her many years to learn this balance. She told me that some people’s comments come from a place of trying to lift themselves up, while others truly offer advice. And the value of that advice depends on who the person is and what field they’re in, how much they know you, and from what perspective they are speaking.
I’m very grateful for this conversation. Even though I still need practice to protect my heart, it helped me understand myself better and made me even more eager to find out who Jane really is, rather than becoming someone shaped by other people’s expectations.
Week 8
11/24,11/26,11/28
As my time with Julia is coming to an end, I feel both grateful and emotional. It’s hard to believe how close we are to saying goodbye. This week was very meaningful because I had three full days to work by her side, mainly focusing on preparing for her December 12 performance in Milan and continuing our clay work. Watching the creative process unfold from the very beginning taught me so much. I saw how ideas are imagined, questioned, changed, and sometimes even rejected. Julia shared something with me that truly stayed in my heart: “Turn rejection into an opportunity.” She encouraged me not to be afraid of rejection but to trust that each “no” is guiding us toward the most suitable path. Being beside her during these moments helped me realize that creation is not about avoiding doubt or failure, but about facing uncertainty with courage and openness. This week reminded me that growth comes from trusting the process and continuing forward, even when the path feels unclear.
Week 9
12/1,12/3,12/5 This week is almost my last week interning with Julia, and I can already feel how much I’m going to miss our time together. Something exciting happened this week: Julia suddenly brought up the idea of doing an exhibition in Taiwan. Since she has a professor in Taiwan writing about her work, and I’m Taiwanese myself, it felt like the perfect connection. We immediately opened an Excel sheet and started listing possible museums and galleries where she might exhibit. We went through them one by one, looking for contact information and researching how each institution works. It wasn’t easy, but I learned so much. I didn’t realize how different art management is between Europe and Asia. In Europe, if you want to exhibit in a museum or even a church, it usually depends on talking directly with the director or the person in charge. But in Taiwan, many museums are government-run, so the process is much more formal; you need to go through applications, and without recognition or reputation, it’s very difficult to get accepted. Understanding this difference was a big learning moment for me. Outside of all the research, Julia also started preparing for Christmas. We picked beautiful branches from outside and decorated them with ornaments. It was simple but really fun, and it gave me another warm memory with her as we approach the end of this internship.
Sorrento, Italy.
