Goodbye，UCCA
Time flies. I have been interning at UCCA for six months now. This experience gave me so much: I taught myself 2D design, learned how the art industry and curation work, and developed strong research and critical thinking skills.
Although I loved my team and our projects, I realized I needed to leave my comfort zone. Growth is a series of goodbyes. I turned down the offer to renew my contract and decided to return to London for a new challenge.
finding job in London
Finding a job in London is not easy. During the Chinese New Year in February, I spent most of my holiday updating my CV and portfolio.
I first targeted famous galleries that fit my Fine Art background. I wrote tailored cover letters for each one. I also applied for research assistant roles at universities. Every day, I checked sites like Art Temps and Creative Opportunities. In just two weeks, I sent out over 40 applications, but I received very few replies.
The competition is intense. I am realizing that while I have good manual skills, aesthetics, and ideas, I lack “hard skills” like software proficiency and marketing experience. These are the things employers value most.
Rethinking Fine Art
This experience made me think about the nature of “Fine Art.” It isn’t just about technique or theory. It is an unquantifiable aesthetic, a way of seeing the world, and a personal attitude. These things aren’t really taught in school; they come from years of personal practice and exploration.
Because of this, I am considering a different subject for my Master’s degree—either a hard technology or a new field of knowledge.
Art is the spirit, but practical skills are the “outlet.” By learning something new, I want to find a better way for my art to exist in the world. I don’t want my work to just “float”; I want it to speak professionally and strategically in the real world. I believe this combination will create a “1+1 > 2” effect for my future.
Leave a Reply