‘Two Improvisations’ Artist-Led Tour

Join artist Chris Zhongtian Yuan for a guided tour of ‘Two Improvisations’ — his first UK institutional solo exhibition at esea contemporary. This artist-led walkthrough offers an opportunity to encounter the exhibition through Yuan’s own reflections on improvisation, punk filmmaking, mythology, and DIY aesthetics.

Centred around the newly commissioned ‘Two Improvisations: A Punk Musical’ (2026), the exhibition combines stop-motion animation, musical performance, handmade props, and sculptural installation to explore how personal histories, subcultures, and marginalised identities circulate within broader political and cultural narratives. Drawing on the figure of the Yěrén (野人) — an elusive ape-like being from Chinese folklore — Yuan approaches the ‘wild man’ as a shifting metaphor for artistic otherness, visibility, and resistance.

Moving between film set, stage, and installation, the tour will offer insight into the processes, references, and collaborative energies that shape the exhibition, as well as the role of improvisation as both a creative method and political stance.

Attendance is free, however, booking is required due to capacity.

Image credit:

1-4. Chris Zhongtian Yuan, Two Improvisations: A Punk Musical (2026), 2-channel film. Commissioned by esea contemporary. Film still courtesy of the artist.

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.

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