Steph Huang: There is nothing old under the sun

Steph Huang: There is nothing old under the sun
28th September, 2024 – 8th December, 2024
esea contemporary
13 Thomas St
Manchester
M4 1EU

Roaming the street markets of London, Paris, and Taiwan, artist Steph Huang draws on vernacular styles, informal architecture, and local culture for her first solo show in Manchester presented by esea contemporary, ‘There is nothing old under the sun’. 

Huang’s multidisciplinary practice investigates mass production and commerce, the transcultural and historical dimensions of the food industry, and the implications of such markets on our natural environment. Working in sculpture, mixed media, and found objects, Huang creates poetically charged installations of quiet resonance.

Steph Huang is the 21st winner of the Mark Tanner Sculpture Award (MTSA) in 2023-24, the most significant award for emerging UK artists working in the field of sculpture. Alongside the works created from the MTSA, Huang premieres a new piece commissioned by the University of Salford Art Collection and esea contemporary, developed during a residency in Manchester. This work will enter the University of Salford Art Collection as a permanent legacy of the project.

Huang is profoundly influenced by her lived experiences of island life, from her upbringing in Taiwan to her decade-long residency in the UK. She diligently and meticulously undertakes research for her work, she says: “Field trips are essential, and they also keep my work grounded. Instead of forming an artwork on myself, I create something that reflects the surroundings and resonates with the people.” 

These facets of her work highlight a new world of possibilities, where an artist transcends geographical, cultural, and ideological boundaries, translating and redefining meanings and values through transforming everyday spaces and objects. The roles of cook and artist are also entwined, with Huang’s experience as a chef providing her with a repertoire of foods, packaging and merchandising techniques that feed into sculptures and installations.

‘There is nothing old under the sun,’ takes its title from a collection by Italian photographer Luigi Ghirri, which references Argentine author Jorge Luis Borges and the Biblical book of Ecclesiastes. Over recent years, Huang has drawn on the Situationist International’s practice of the dérive, collecting objects based on their shape and material and repurposing them to add distinctive form, colour, and texture to her artwork. This method involves drifting through cities, guided by curiosity and imagination, embracing serendipity and subversion rather than political or ideological interpretations of spaces and objects. 

Steph Huang said: “Materiality has been a central focus of my practice, and I have a deep appreciation for craftsmanship. I aim to present the absurdity of the weighty topic of the ethics of food production and consumption in a light hearted and playful manner, inviting the audience to engage in this reflection. The work I am showing in ‘There is nothing old under the sun’ came out of the MTSA which fosters a warm and inclusive community where I received unwavering support in pursuing my aspirations. In this show, I am pleased to share a new work commissioned by University of Salford Art Collection and esea contemporary, developed during a residency I undertook in Manchester this summer.”

Her explorations, whether on foot or by bike, yield diverse ingredients for her art, from abandoned fridge racks to colourful food containers and unique street furniture. Huang’s work reflects the dynamic interplay of objects, images, and histories, continually renewing them through influence, translation, and creativity.

Steph Huang: There is nothing old under the sun opens on the 28th of September, 2024 until the 8th of December, 2024 at esea contemporary

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