art interview by JULIANA BALESTIN portrait by ALEXIS DAHAN JULIANA BALESTIN — I recently saw your first New York City solo show, at Half Gallery. It featured a series of hand-made ceramic chains. You employ a variety of materials but you always seem to come back to clay. JULIA CHANG — I’ve always been drawn to working with my hands. I try to avoid materials you need tools to work with, because they feel less accessible. I’m interested in ceramic because it has such a long history, as a tool, as a craft, and as an art form. It’s a great material because it’s both fragile and strong. JULIANA BALESTIN — The strength and weakness inherent in clay makes it a perfect medium for your chain installation. I’m intrigued by the imperfection in the repetition of so many handcrafted clay links, and by the fact that much of your…