Marcos Kueh's 'Smooth Sailing' exhibition explores Chinese labor migration through textiles at ESEA Contemporary
Marcos Kueh's exhibition titled 'Smooth Sailing' is on display at ESEA Contemporary in Manchester from 25 October to 11 January. This showcase delves into the histories of Chinese labor and migration through a variety of mediums, including sculptures, installations, and tapestries. Notable pieces include 'Woven Poster: Spirit of Labour,' which features a golden ship adorned with a dragon figurehead, reminiscent of 19th-century trade union banners. 'Abandonment' presents a large sail and a shattered mast alongside guardian deities, while 'Hope and Fear' employs distressed textiles to form shadowy map-like shapes. Kueh's use of deadstock fabrics and an industrial embroidery machine in 'Love, Labour, Loneliness' further enhances the narrative. The 'Three Contemporary Prosperities' tapestry series reinterprets Chinese deities as modern brand ambassadors, reflecting Kueh's residency at ESEA Contemporary and emphasizing global migration stories.
Key facts
- Exhibition runs 25 October to 11 January
- Features sculptures, tapestries, and large-scale installations
- References nineteenth-century trades-union banners from Manchester's People's History Museum
- Includes works titled 'Woven Poster: Spirit of Labour,' 'Abandonment,' 'Hope and Fear,' and 'Love, Labour, Loneliness'
- Uses deadstock fabrics from textile industry
- Industrial embroidery machine operates continuously in one installation
- Reimagines Chinese deities with contemporary commercial symbols
- Developed during artist's residency at ESEA Contemporary
Entities
Artists
- Marcos Kueh
Institutions
- ESEA Contemporary
- People's History Museum
Locations
- Manchester
- United Kingdom