Yan Zhang (also known as Koh Juen) is a Helsinki-based sound activist and composer whose work explores the intersections of performativity, soundscapes, activism, and radical audio-visual experiences. Currently pursuing an MA in New Media at Aalto University (2022-2024), Yan has transformed from a classical pianist into a composer and sound artist since 2018, engaging deeply in underground alternative rock, post-rock, and multimedia collaborations in Beijing, China.

In addition to her artistic pursuits, Yan works as an independent astrologist and feminist therapist and founded her studio, Half Soul Studio, in China in 2023. As a self-described Invisible Manifestor, she enjoys blending meditative visuals, sound manifesto that touches the soul into her performances, skillfully navigating and controlling the live environment.

She is currently researching a performance format that introduces textual sonification as a core technique, exploring the dynamic roles of performativity and activism between political and historical landscapes. The performance, titled “Desert Woman,” has already been presented at Yö Gallery Helsinki and is awaiting further venues and arrangements.