Sophia Yadong Hao, director and curator of Dundee's Cooper Gallery
Sophia Yadong Hao leads Cooper Gallery, Dundee’s longest‑running contemporary art space and the University of Dundee’s flagship public venue. With more than seven decades of history, the gallery has earned an international reputation for experimental projects, a global outlook and a deep commitment to public engagement.
Hao’s curatorial approach is defined by a search for art that is critically rigorous, risk‑taking and attuned to urgent social and political questions. She favours work that opens complex debates rather than offering simple answers, and she strives to create spaces where artists, audiences and community groups can co‑author encounters that disrupt hierarchies and spark new directions.
Visitors, she notes, now seek genuine participation as much as visual impact. By treating accessibility and experimentation as complementary rather than opposed, Cooper Gallery designs multiple entry points into challenging work, allowing diverse audiences to connect with overlooked histories and marginalised perspectives.
The gallery’s sustainability agenda extends beyond finances. It encompasses realistic workloads, fair artist remuneration, environmental responsibility and long‑term relationships both locally and globally. Digital platforms are used to archive and amplify programmes, while face‑to‑face encounters remain the core of the experience.
Hao also emphasizes the importance of generative dialogue between emerging and established practitioners. The proximity to Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design enables younger artists to share the same curatorial seriousness as internationally recognised names, fostering cross‑generational conversations that enrich the programme.
Against a backdrop of financial pressure on higher education, Hao frames the gallery’s challenges as part of a wider cultural shift that threatens critical inquiry. She argues that spaces like Cooper Gallery are essential for democratic society, providing the imagination and dissent needed to confront pressing issues such as climate change, social justice and the resurgence of authoritarianism.