About Us

The UK’s only non-profit institution specialising in presenting and platforming artists and art practices that are informed by East and Southeast Asian (ESEA) heritages.

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What's On

Exhibitions
Marcos Kueh: Smooth Sailing, 一路順風
Current
Upcoming
Past
Exhibition
Marcos Kueh: Smooth Sailing, 一路順風
from
11
October
2025
until
11
January
2026
'Smooth Sailing, 一路順風’ is the first institutional solo exhibition by Marcos Kueh—an emerging artist whose richly layered textile works has been increasingly recognised on the international stage. This exhibition introduces new materials and processes while deepening his ongoing exploration of cross-cultural histories, diasporic identity, and collective memory.

What's On

Events
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What's On

Residencies
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What's On

Projects
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Trà Nguyễn
Residency
Trà Nguyễn
from
26
October
2025
until
1
November
2025
2025-10-26
esea contemporary is pleased to welcome theatre-maker Trà Nguyễn for a residency as part of 'Connecting Postcolonial Diasporas via Asian Aunties.' During this phase of the project, Nguyễn will lead conversations and workshops in Manchester, offering tools, stories, and practices of making.
No items found. Check out our Exhibitions Page?
No items found. Check out our Exhibitions Page?
Voicing the Archive
Project
Voicing the Archive
from
15
January
2025
until
25
May
2025
2025-01-15
Originally commissioned as a series of audio-visual works, 'Voicing the Archive' reimagines the histories of early Chinese migration to Britain—a narrative often marginalised in official records and excluded from dominant historical discourse.
Voicing the Archive
Project
Voicing the Archive
from
15
January
2025
until
25
May
2025
2025-01-15
Originally commissioned as a series of audio-visual works, 'Voicing the Archive' reimagines the histories of early Chinese migration to Britain—a narrative often marginalised in official records and excluded from dominant historical discourse.
Saturday Guided Tour: 'Marcos Kueh: Smooth Sailing, 一路順風'
Event
Saturday Guided Tour: 'Marcos Kueh: Smooth Sailing, 一路順風'
from
1
November
2025
until
3
January
2026
14:00 - 14:30
2026-01-03
Every first Saturday of the month, join a staff member in the gallery for a free guided tour of 'Marcos Kueh: Smooth Sailing, 一路順風.'
Auntie Tales: Ghost Stories Across the Generations
Event
Auntie Tales: Ghost Stories Across the Generations
from
until
30
October
2025
11:00 - 13:30
2025-10-30
esea contemporary is pleased to present 'Auntie Tales: Ghost Stories Across the Generations', an engaging and playful workshop led by theatre-maker and artist Trà Nguyễn.
Exhibition Preview 'Marcos Kueh: Smooth Sailing, 一路順風'
Event
Exhibition Preview 'Marcos Kueh: Smooth Sailing, 一路順風'
from
until
10
October
2025
18:00 - 20:00
2025-10-10
Join us for the exhibition preview of 'Smooth Sailing, 一路順風', the debut institutional solo exhibition from emerging artist Marcos Kueh. Anchored in richly layered textiles and a new sculptural language, Kueh’s evolving practice offers a poetic reflection on migration, resilience, and cultural memory.
Director's Letter

Dear esea contemporary community,

In poetry, we seek refuge; in art, we discover possibility. These words often return to me as I reflect on the city we call home—Manchester, a place where histories of movement, labour, and resistance are woven into its very fabric.

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