Exhibition Preview 'Marcos Kueh: Smooth Sailing, 一路順風'

Join us for the preview of 'Smooth Sailing, 一路順風', the first institutional solo exhibition by emerging artist Marcos Kueh. Featuring new works developed during his residency at esea contemporary, the exhibition is curated by Jo-Lene Ong with Associate Curator Julia Jiang.

'Smooth Sailing, 一路順風' explores the realities and afterlives of migration in search of a better future. The title draws from the Chinese phrase 一路順風 (yī lù shùn fēng), a parting blessing that literally means 'may the wind be smooth along your entire journey.' It conveys hopes for safety, ease, and favourable conditions for those embarking on uncertain paths. Kueh reflects on this phrase through both personal and historical lenses: his own experiences as a diasporic Chinese Malaysian who migrated to Europe, and broader histories of the textile industry, labor movements, and displacement.

The centrepiece of the exhibition is a major new immersive installation, also titled 'Smooth Sailing, 一路順風.' This sculptural tableau features a weathered ship sail and a kinetic embroidery machine, creating a poignant scene of fragility, endurance, and cultural inheritance. Drawing on research from the People’s History Museum and The Whitworth’s renowned textile collection, the work evokes themes of endurance and migration, holding stories of labour, displacement, and cultural ritual in delicate tension.

The exhibition also includes a new iteration of '福禄寿-Three Contemporary Prosperities.' These woven talismans reimagines the traditional Chinese deities of Fortune, Prosperity, and Longevity as hyper-contemporary figures: The Brilliant Billionaire, The Perfect Celebrity, and The Immortal Elder. Updated each time it is shown, the work reflects on how our ideals of a 'good life' are shaped by shifting societal desires.

Anchored in richly layered textiles and a new sculptural language, Kueh’s evolving practice offers a poetic reflection on migration, resilience, and cultural memory.

Advance booking for this free event is recommended due to limited capacity.

Image credits:

1. Marcos Kueh, '福禄寿–Three Contemporary Prosperities: Woven Talisman #4 The Brilliant Billionaire', 2025, detail. Image courtesy of the artist.
2. Marcos Kueh in front of his artwork 'Kenyalang Circus: Nenek Moyang', 2024. Photo courtesy of Grazia Singapore.
3. Marcos Kueh, Smooth Sailing: Hope and Fear, 2025, detail. Image courtesy of the artist.
4. Marcos Kueh, '福禄寿-Three Contemporary Prosperities: Woven Talisman #5 The Perfect Celebrity', 2025, 170cm x 235cm, polyester. Image 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.