Events
Event
Book Launch
Publication Launch: There is nothing old under the sun
from
until
30
November
2024
14:30 - 16:00
esea contemporary and Bound Art Book Fair are pleased to co-present a panel discussion celebrating the launch of ‘There is nothing old under the sun,’ a special publication accompanying the eponymous exhibition by Steph Huang. 
Event
Screenings
Queer East Screening Programme: 'Silence Will Not Protect You'
from
until
28
November
2024
18:00 - 20:00
esea contemporary co-presents with Queer East, ‘Silence Will Not Protect You’, a screening programme offering an unfiltered look into unseen and unspoken aspects of LGBTQ+ experience.
Event
Guided tours
City Walk: Rhythms of Labour, Leisure, and Lost Histories
from
16
November
2024
until
23
November
2024
11:00 - 12:30
Uncover Manchester’s dynamic layers of architectural and cultural heritage on a walking tour of the city guided by architect, Rajan Rane.
Event
Talks
Amplifying Women's Voices: Leadership, Mentorship, and Global-Majority Perspectives in Contemporary Art
from
until
16
November
2024
15:15–16:30
esea contemporary and Manchester Contemporary are pleased to present 'Amplifying Women's Voices: Leadership, Mentorship, and Global-Majority Perspectives in Contemporary Art', an insightful panel discussion celebrating the vital contributions of women in the contemporary art world.
Event
Talks
A Talk by Northing: 'Building Bridges with Books'
from
until
30
October
2024
15:30 - 17:00
Join us for an afternoon of insightful dialogue, publication displays, and meaningful connections, as we continue to celebrate the transformative role of books in bridging diverse communities.
Event
Previews
Exhibition Preview 'Steph Huang: There is nothing old under the sun'
from
until
27
September
2024
18:00 - 20:00
Join us for the exhibition preview to celebrate esea contemporary's new exhibition 'Steph Huang: There is nothing old under the sun.'
Event
Installations
Sensory Archive Corner
from
2
July
2024
until
7
September
2024
10:00–17:00 daily, Tuesday–Saturday
esea contemporary has commissioned Manchester-based artist and designer Sarah Marsh to create the site-specific installation 'Sensory Archive Corner' in our Communal Project Space.
Event
Installations
'Your words flow like water' by Jasmine Gardner
from
2
July
2024
until
7
September
2024
10:00–17:00 daily, Tuesday–Saturday
Exploring notions of belonging and the fluidity of cultural identity materialise in the form of a site-specific installation.
Event
Music
Food
Installations
ESEA Heritage Month
ESEA Meet Up
from
until
6
September
2024
17:00 - 19:00
Join us in celebrating ESEA Heritage Month with a showcase of artworks by Hong Kong BN(O) communities and a live DJ set.
Event
Guided tours
Saturday Guided Tour: 'Jatiwangi art Factory: Clayground'
from
10
August
2024
until
31
August
2024
14:00 - 15:00
Every Saturday, join a staff member in the gallery for a free guided tour of esea contemporary’s exhibition 'Jatiwangi art Factory: Clayground.'
Event
Talks
Online Talk by Alison Lam: 'When things don't go according to plan'
from
until
9
August
2024
15:30 - 16:30
In this artist talk, Alison Lam will reflect on her British Chinese neurodivergent identity and experiences of navigating her artistic social practice engagements, all informed by her lived experience of raising children with autism in British cultural environments.
Event
Screenings
An Inverted Journey of Counter Archiving
from
2
July
2024
until
27
July
2024
10:00–17:00 daily, Tuesday–Saturday
This dynamic programme offers a critical examination – through an artistic lens and research – which seeks to destabilise entrenched power dynamics and foster a thought-provoking understanding and representation of memory and history.
Event
Workshops
Clayground: 'Hear, Touch, Taste’ Workshop Series
from
19
July
2024
until
25
July
2024
14:00 - 16:00
Led by Elgea Balzarie, an artist from Jatiwangi art Factory (JaF), this workshop series will explore the role of clay, deeply rooted in JaF's research in the Jatiwangi region, as a medium that fosters community engagement and empowers the conservation of local lands.
Event
Readings
Talks
Workshops
Clare Chun-yu Liu: Artist Talk and Reading Workshop
from
until
20
July
2024
14:00 - 16:00
Join us for an Artist Talk followed by a Reading Workshop, where UK-based Taiwanese artist Clare Chun-yu Liu will explore ideas of diasporic cultural identity, (self-)representation, and the relationship between self and other.
Event
Talks
Performances
Lecture-Performance: ‘Transliterative Tease’ by Slavs and Tatars
from
until
27
June
2024
18:00 - 19:30
Join this lecture-performance by internationally renowned art collective, Slavs and Tatars, which explores the sounds rolling off our tongues as a strategy of resistance and interdisciplinary research.
Event
Screenings
Jane Jin Kaisen: Halmang
Finissage Screening: Jane Jin Kaisen
from
until
23
June
2024
15:00 - 17:00
Join us in the Gallery for a special screening on the final day of the exhibition ‘Jane Jin Kaisen: Halmang.' Featuring three earlier film works that collectively delve into the complex, transgenerational issue of gender and militarism, at the nexus of colonisation, nationalism, patriarchy, and imperialism.
Event
Guided tours
Jane Jin Kaisen: Halmang
Saturday Guided Tour: 'Jane Jin Kaisen: Halmang'
from
20
January
2024
until
22
June
2024
14:00 - 15:00
On every Saturday, join us in the gallery for a free guided tour of esea contemporary’s exhibition 'Jane Jin Kaisen: Halmang'
Event
Workshops
Family-Friendly Event: Make A Sensory Dumpling
from
until
22
June
2024
11:00 - 12:30
Join us for a sensory workshop created for the new Hong Kong BN(O) communities residing in Manchester. Led by practitioner Sarah Marsh, the artist behind the acclaimed The Sensory Toolkit, participants will craft their ‘dumplings’ using soft T-shirt fabric, decorating the fabric before filling it with a blend of natural dried grains and aromatic herbs.
Event
Workshops
‘Archiving Memoirs’ Creative Writing Workshops: Sunday Workshop (Chinese)
from
until
9
June
2024
13:00–16:30
These bilingual non-fiction workshops offer a distinctive opportunity for participants to delve into and chronicle their personal experiences of migration through the art of storytelling.
Event
Workshops
‘Archiving Memoirs’ Creative Writing Workshops: Saturday Workshop (English)
from
until
8
June
2024
13:00–16:30
These bilingual non-fiction workshops offer a distinctive opportunity for participants to delve into and chronicle their personal experiences of migration through the art of storytelling.
Event
Workshops
Jane Jin Kaisen: Halmang
Marine Life-Inspired Eco-Friendly Collage Workshop
from
until
12
May
2024
14:00 - 16:00
Together we will experiment with recycled and repurposed materials to create visual images, textures and patterns reminiscent of the sea
Event
Talks
Book Talk: Negotiating Identities, Language and Migration in Global London
from
until
4
May
2024
14:30 - 16:00
The book, published by Multilingual Matters and edited by Cangbai Wang and Terry Lamb, explores the transnational practices of migrant groups in global London.
Event
Screenings
Both Sides Now 9: Generations
from
until
25
April
2024
18:30 - 20:30
esea contemporary is pleased to host the screening programme 'Both Sides Now 9: Generations', curated by videoclub and Videotage
Event
Readings
Jane Jin Kaisen: Halmang
Feminist Duration Reading Group: Tonight, there’s no place for me to put down my poem
from
until
14
April
2024
14:00 - 16:00
esea contemporary is pleased to co-host an in-person reading session with the Feminist Duration Reading Group, led by Taey Iohe and Grace Eunhye Park. Through three lyrical texts, the session will reflect on the different social multiplicity of gender and migratory encounters in the concurrent ecological, social, and political crises of our time.
Event
Workshops
Choreography of Care: Movement Workshop with Yon Natalie Mik
from
until
13
April
2024
14:30 - 16:00
Join Yon Natalie Mik for a choreography workshop with reference to Korean shamanism, experiencing collective movement and sculptural paper notations.
Event
Talks
Online talk: In conversation with Karen Smith
from
until
6
April
2024
10:00 - 11:30
Join us online for a conversation between Karen Smith, curator and Director of Academic Initiatives at De Ying Foundation, and Xiaowen Zhu, Director of esea contemporary
Event
Wine Tastings
Colour & Corks: Wine Tasting Workshop 'Women'
from
until
28
March
2024
18:00 - 20:00
Join wine writer Kelly Liang for a thought-provoking, interactive evening of wine tasting and storytelling exploring the theme of ‘Women’ through the lens of wine.
Event
Readings
Jane Jin Kaisen: Halmang
Open Book II: Extended Readings by Jane Jin Kaisen
from
until
23
March
2024
14:00 - 15:00
Join us to read and discuss the relevant publications by Jane Jin Kaisen presented as part of her current solo exhibition 'Halmang'
Event
Workshops
esea ArtClub
esea ArtClub: Year of the Wood Dragon Painting Workshop
from
until
21
March
2024
11:00 - 13:00
In the spirit of the Lunar New Year, join us for this painting workshop to craft your own interpretations of the Wood Dragon.
Event
Screenings
Off-Site Screening: 'A Jury Trial' by Liu Weiwei
from
until
7
March
2024
18:10 - 19:50
Join us for the UK premiere of Liu Weiwei's 'A Jury Trial' (2023) at HOME, Manchester
Event
Workshops
Family-Friendly Event: Shadow Play Workshop
from
until
3
March
2024
11:00 - 12:30
Come and make a shadow puppet to celebrate the year of the Wood Dragon!
Event
Readings
Jane Jin Kaisen: Halmang
Open Book I: Extended Readings by Jane Jin Kaisen
from
until
24
February
2024
14:00 - 15:00
Join us to read and discuss the relevant publications by Jane Jin Kaisen presented as part of her current solo exhibition 'Halmang'
Event
Food
esea ArtClub
esea ArtClub: Lunar New Year Celebration Lunch
from
until
22
February
2024
11:00 - 13:00
Join us for a Prosperity Toss Lunar New Year celebration lunch hosted by Little Yellow Rice Co.
Event
Workshops
Jane Jin Kaisen: Halmang
Colouring Workshop: Oceanic Encounters
from
until
17
February
2024
14:30 - 16:00
Join us for a free colouring workshop exploring Jeju Island's seascapes and marine life, inspired by the haenyeos featured in our current exhibition 'Jane Jin Kaisen: Halmang'
Event
Music
A Lunar New Year Celebration
from
until
16
February
2024
19:30 - late
Celebrate the dawn of the Year of the Wood Dragon at an exclusive event for esea contemporary’s supporters, collaborators, and partners from Manchester and beyond
Event
Guided tours
Jane Jin Kaisen: Halmang
Curator's Tour: 'Jane Jin Kaisen: Halmang'
from
until
20
January
2024
11:00 - 12:00; 14:00 - 15:00
Join our Curator in the gallery for a guided tour of esea contemporary’s exhibition 'Jane Jin Kaisen: Halmang'
Event
Previews
Jane Jin Kaisen: Halmang
Preview - Jane Jin Kaisen: Halmang
from
until
19
January
2024
18:00 - 20:00
Join us for the exhibition preview to celebrate esea contemporary's new exhibition 'Jane Jin Kaisen: Halmang'
Event
Screenings
Jane Jin Kaisen: Halmang
Community of Parting: Off-Site Screening and In Conversation
from
until
18
January
2024
17:30 - 19:30
esea contemporary is pleased to co-present an off-site screening of 'Community of Parting' by Jane Jin Kaisen at School of Digital Arts, Manchester Metropolitan University.