Exhibition Preview of Slavs and Tatars: The Contest of the Fruits

Join us for the preview of 'The Contest of the Fruits'—the first UK institutional solo exhibition by internationally acclaimed art collective Slavs and Tatars, presented under Xiaowen Zhu's artistic direction and curated by Jo-Lene Ong.

At the heart of The Contest of the Fruits is the collective’s first-ever film, an animated adaptation of a 19th-century Uighur poem reimagined as a dynamic rap battle between thirteen fruits. Blending satire with stunning Arabic calligraphy, the film is accompanied by an original soundtrack performed by Uighur diaspora rapper Nash Tarr and mixed by Polish musician Lubomir Grzelak (aka Lutto Lento), merging pop, trap, and traditional maqam elements.

Upon entering the exhibition, visitors encounter Self-Help—a large-scale wallpaper installation featuring vibrant, colourful hands translating Simurgh (a Sufi symbol of transcendence and rebirth) into international sign language. Against this backdrop are sculptural and wall-based works, including Signal (2025), Slavs and Tatars' newly commissioned work from their latest Simurgh Self-Help cycle.

Join us for an evening exploring Slavs and Tatars' distinctive fusion of language, politics, and humour through art and conversation. Advance booking is recommended due to limited capacity.

Image credits:

1. Slavs and Tatars, 'The Contest of the Fruits', 2021, animation, 00:07:18 (loop), still image, courtesy of Slavs and Tatars and Kraupa-Tuskany Zeidler, Berlin
2. Slavs and Tatars, 'Simurgh', poster, 2025
3. Slavs and Tatars, 'Who are you?', 2021, vacuum-formed plastic, acrylic paint, 64 × 91 cm
4. Slavs and Tatars, 'Öööps', 2013, vacuum-formed plastic, acrylic paint, 64 × 91 cm. Image courtesy of Slavs and Tatars and Kraupa-Tuskany Zeidler, Berlin
5. Slavs and Tatars, Signal (warm), 2025, resin, stainless steel, aluminium, spray paint, light bulb 62 × 31 × 37 cm

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.