Former Chinese art centre in UK shut after racism claims reopens – here’s what’s coming up in its inaugural exhibition
- Manchester’s Esea Contemporary – formerly the Centre for Chinese Contemporary Art – will now focus on East and Southeast Asian art and reopens on February 18
- Director Zhu Xiaowen talks about its new vision and what to expect from its inaugural exhibition, which looks at the migrant experience, among other themes
When Zhu Xiaowen flew from Germany to England in 2022 to interview for the job of director of Manchester’s then Centre for Chinese Contemporary Art (CFCCA), she had a challenge.
Although she had never before visited the centre, in its heritage red brick building in the city’s trendy Northern Quarter, she had to give a full presentation on what she would like to do with the place.
She spoke for 20 minutes.
She spoke of openness and diversity, of the great opportunity of art to not only reflect change, but to bring change.
She also spoke of how this nearly 37-year-old Manchester institution – almost exactly the same age as Zhu herself – could work more closely with people from the communities it was representing, in the city with the highest concentration of East and Southeast Asian people in Britain.
