A Lunar New Year Celebration at esea contemporary

This special event brings together our supporters, collaborators, artists, and partners from Manchester and beyond to mark the season and experience our latest exhibition, ‘Shadow and Void: Buddha¹⁰’. Co-presented by esea contemporary and MAO (Museum of Asian Art), Turin, the exhibition showcases recently restored Buddhist sculptures from the seventh to the eighteenth centuries CE, on loan from MAO, alongside contemporary works by Shigeru Ishihara, Lee Mingwei, LuYang, Sun Xun, Sinta Tantra, Wu Chi-Tsung, and Zheng Bo.

From 6–8pm at esea contemporary, your ticket includes:

• A guided tour of ‘Shadow and Void: Buddha¹⁰’, led by curators Xiaowen Zhu, Director of esea contemporary, and Davide Quadrio, Director of MAO. This multi-sensory exhibition intertwines science, art, and spirituality by juxtaposing ancient artefacts with contemporary creations, including three new commissions created specifically for ‘Buddha¹⁰’.
• Seasonal canapés and complimentary drinks from our pop-up bar.

Following the gathering, the celebration continues at a local Southeast Asian restaurant with:

• A curated dining experience and shared meal
• Music and live DJ performances

Additionally, your ticket includes a year of esea contemporary ‘Friend’ membership, offering:

• 10% discount on events, workshops, and shop items.
• Exclusive invitations to artist talks, workshops, and visits.
• A welcome pack with a Year of the Snake tote bag and greeting card.

This celebration is an opportunity to embrace new beginnings, deepen connections within the community, and engage with the vibrant creative work at esea contemporary.

Book your place to join us for this memorable occasion!

About esea contemporary

esea contemporary is the UK’s only non-profit art centre specialising in presenting and platforming artists and art practices that identify with and are informed by East and Southeast Asian (ESEA) cultural backgrounds.

esea contemporary is situated in an award-winning building in the heart of Manchester, home to one of the largest East Asian populations in the UK. Since its inauguration as a community-oriented visual arts festival in 1986, esea contemporary has continuously evolved to establish itself as a dynamic and engaging space for cross-cultural exchanges in the British art scene, as well as in a global context.

esea contemporary aims to increase the visibility of contemporary art practices from the East and Southeast Asian communities and their diasporas. It is a site for forward-thinking art programmes that beyond exhibitions also include commissions, research, residencies, publishing, and a wide range of vibrant public events. esea contemporary values creativity, compassion, interconnectedness, and collectivity in implementing its mission.

Learn more at: www.eseacontemporary.org

Photo by Joe Smith.

Host or Publisher esea contemporary