Cake Researcher

Last month, Terra Gallery celebrated its 40th anniversary.

Ever since I first arrived in the Netherlands, the gallery owners, Simone and Joke, have been dear friends to me, more like family, really. My daughter even affectionately calls them “grandmas.” Through them, I have witnessed a kind of vitality that refuses to be defined by age. What does it matter if you are 70? You can still keep creating, still cycle 2,000 kilometers during the summer holidays, and still remain curious and enthusiastic about the world.

The 40th anniversary celebration took place in Delft’s Old Church. Artist friends traveled from all over the world to join the occasion, and the church was filled to capacity with warmth, laughter, and celebration.

Ten years ago, Terra’s 30th anniversary was held in the same church. This year, many artists who came to the celebration again found themselves reflecting on how quickly time passes. In what feels like the blink of an eye, another decade has gone by, yet it has been a decade filled with creativity, friendships, and meaningful work.

I also made a small cake for the celebration and shared it with artist friends who had traveled all the way from China (@红脸蛋蔷薇 @一森泥社 @李振).

I have known Wenna ( ) for 11 years. Back in 2015, she created a two-story-high mural in Delft, and I was one of her enthusiastic “coloring assistants.” Over the years, every time we meet, our conversations always revolve around two things: food and creativity.

Whenever I see Wenna, I am struck by the natural, otherworldly quality she carries with her. She seems untouched by the noise and pressures of everyday life, as if she inhabits the very mythological world she creates. Perhaps that is why she is able to bring so many unforgettable immortals, spirits, and magical beings to life in her art.

I tested 6 different kinds of Chinese matcha

At 40, I Feel Genuinely Happy

This birthday cake was made for a little girl.
After I finished the fondant figurine, my daughter looked at it and said, “Mom, every little girl you make looks like you.”Then she braided my hair into two plaits, exactly like the little girl on the cake.

As I approach forty, the biggest realization is actually about letting go. Not that I’ve become less responsible, but I’m no longer driven by external standards. For example, I don’t really care about job titles anymore, nor do I measure my life by a career ladder I’m supposed to climb. What matters more to me is whether I’m doing something I truly enjoy, and whether I’m doing it with people I like and trust.

What we often call resilience is, in fact, a mindset of “the worst isn’t that bad.”Many things that feel overwhelming or insurmountable in the moment, a few years later, turn out to be insignificant. With this kind of low-pressure mindset, waking up in the morning comes with a very tangible sense of happiness. I can clearly feel the care and support from people around me, and I’m more willing to pass that love on.

Today, I learned a Dutch word from my business partner: gunfactor. Roughly speaking, it means being someone others naturally want to support, to see succeed, and to be close to. I accepted this affirmation calmly, because I know it’s not a skill, it’s something that has been built, little by little, over the years.

This morning, as soon as I woke up, I called a close friend to ask her to help me think through the business model of a new project. I rely a lot on intuition, but at critical moments, I value even more the ability to find trusted people within a day, think things through together, and then make decisions with clarity.

I will turn 40 at the end of this year.
I feel fortunate, age has brought a certain clarity, but it hasn’t left too many marks on me yet. Perhaps the ability to continuously feel happiness is, in itself, a kind of force that keeps one from aging too quickly.