Frances Yeung West Midlands, United Kingdom
I’m a multidisciplinary artist, my work ranging from installations, animations to immersive storytelling, exploring themes of race, ethnicity and feminist identity. My projects often have the aim of shining spotlights on marginalised communities. Through art, whether it’s engagement workshops, co-creations or thought-provoking pieces, I hope to create real-world social changes.
My ongoing project #WhiteRiceYellowPotato, delves into British Chinese women’s stories through interviews and research, focusing on the significance of food, language and feminist issues. This work attempts to open up more dialogues and perhaps reclaim the narratives.
The title ‘White Rice Yellow Potatoes’ came from a phrase I remember since second year of my uni days: The world is full of white people eating yellow potatoes and yellow people eating white rice. Decades later I feel the urge to delve into projects investigating race and food, in a light-hearted, non-threatening way so people are more open to share.
In 2019/20, funded by ACE, I work alongside Chinese Community Centre Birmingham (CCC-B) members and the local curator to explore Chinese Classic stories and gender roles, resulting in an exhibition at Birmingham Library. During pandemic lockdowns, I collaborated with lecturer from University of Warwick, created an online visual documentation of Chinese communities in Coventry entitled ‘Making-alien-land-home-land’, sharing stories of three generations of women, revealing the lost voices, especially their sense of identity and belonging(s).
During my digital residency at the Centre of Contemporary Chinese Art (CFCCA), I created ‘Finding Femininity in the Archive’ - an online exhibition explore feminist role as mother, wife and value of household chores.
On a yearly basis, I also engaged with the Hippodrome Theatre and CCC-B to create Chinese New Year related exhibitions. Last year, we co-created a 3D tiger with all members' artwork on display in Bull Ring Centre, previously fortune tree wraps was created to spread good wishes.
Other previous projects: Stephen Lawrence Day short video; collaborated with Coventry University researchers to amplify creative freelancers’ voices and experience (part of Coventry Creates project) and output as part of online exhibition; autism families lived experience video - all with undertone to shine spotlight on underrepresented communities…
Prior to committing being an artist, I have been a commercial visual designer for over 15 years, working in various industries including insurance, health and education sectors. I still do take on occasional graphic, illustration and web freelance commissions to subsidise, as I slowly discovering and navigating art world's pay structure (or lack of).
Artwork
Love, Freedom and Everything In-Between, 2020