esea contemporary is pleased to present Manchester-based artist Jasmine Gardner's site-specific installation, 'Your words flow like water' in our Communal Project Space.
‘Your words flow like water’ emphasises the quest for a fluid sense of cultural identity. Inspired by the physical flow of water, the work pairs traditional Chinese art with a metaphorical interpretation of micro-aggressive incisions made by small, sharp comments and the subtle shadows they cast on an underlying surface. These small cuts to the artist’s identity have shaped and affected her perception of her personal and artistic position while living in Britain for the last 26 years. As colonial mindsets and systemic racism continue to cast shadows on her ongoing search for cultural identity, the resulting state is simultaneously beautiful and fragile. ‘Your words flow like water’ invites viewers not only to spectate but to join the gentle motions of the hanging paper, engaging in the delicate dance of identity exploration.
Also on view at the Communal Project Space is Gardner's 2021 work, 'Take your Chinese and shove it up your ass, you chinky pig!' The piece features five vases made from ivory stoneware, finished with a tin shiny glaze and cobalt oxide. Living as part of the cultural diaspora and witnessing ongoing xenophobia and racism towards people of East and South-East Asian heritage has instilled a profound sense of ‘otherness’ in the artist’s personal and artistic life. Enduring comments laced with exoticising and fetishising language, the artist channels this emotional turbulence into her creative practice, using it as a tool to give voice to these experiences.
‘Take your Chinese and shove it up your ass, you chinky pig!’ is a declaration of cultural resilience. The work juxtaposes the firmness of its stance with the delicacy of its medium: ceramic. By referencing traditional Chinese craft, Jasmine Gardner explores the dichotomy between the beauty of the Ming Dynasty Moon-flask vase—a revered artefact from antiquity—and the internal struggle to confront those who perpetuate pain and prejudice.The artist re-conceptualises the vessel’s sociological function, transforming it into a container for societal ignorance. This collection of ceramic vases aims to challenge perceptions of traditional Chinese craft and reveal the compelling narratives it can convey.
Born in Suzhou, China, and adopted into a white family from Essex, UK at the age of seven months, Gardner’s interdisciplinary practice melds sociological themes drawn from her lived experiences with a deep fascination for historical art, craft, and aesthetics. By subtly integrating Chinese-inspired references, Gardner challenges preconceived notions of ‘Chinese art,’ ensuring her work remains authentic to her background while transcending cultural boundaries.
Jasmine Gardner holds a BA in Fine Art and History as well as an MA from the Manchester School of Art at Manchester Metropolitan University. She was a featured artist in the National Museums Liverpool Walker Art Gallery's ‘What Artists Wear’ digital series; co-curated and produced HappeningInMCR X West Art Collective's exhibition, ‘Something New’ at Saan1; and was a commissioned artist for Ste Wing's 2023 ‘Chinatown Art Project’ in Manchester.
This site-specific installation is part of esea contemporary's Summer Programme ‘From (Counter-)Archives to Activation.’
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