From Tokyo to Manchester: Weekend Festival
September 5, 2025 - September 7, 2025 esea contemporary
With generous support from the Mori Art Museum, Tokyo
In collaboration with The White Hotel, Manchester
This event is free to attend
On the occasion of the 50th anniversary of Japan Week, esea contemporary presents a vibrant weekend festival spotlighting Japan’s genre-expanding contemporary culture.
From Tokyo to Manchester opens with an electrifying live music event headlined by the boundary-pushing Violent Magic Orchestra from Japan, presented in collaboration with The White Hotel.
The festival also features a standout screening programme, drawn from the collection of the Mori Art Museum in Tokyo, one of Asia’s leading institutions for contemporary art. Curated by esea contemporary, this two-part programme showcases a selection of moving image works, many of which are being shown in Manchester for the first time. Programme I: Rhythms of the Earth is a poetic meditation on survival, resilience, and transformation across both human and non-human worlds. Moving beyond narrative, the selected works reveal the often-unnoticed harmonies and tensions that shape our existence in an ever-shifting environment. Programme II: Feminist and Queer Reflections explores gender, desire, family, and memory through feminist and queer perspectives. Artist talks and conversations deepen the experience, inviting audiences into a space of dialogue and shared resonance.
The weekend concludes with a series of family-friendly creative workshops introducing participants of all ages to traditional Japanese cultural practices in an open and celebratory setting.
Through sound, image, and encounter, From Tokyo to Manchester celebrates the enduring cultural dialogue between Japan and the world, offering a forward-looking platform for experimentation and connection.