Can We Stay 'CLOSER': A retrospective of my ACAVA residency

Here is the first blog I'm writing in this website. I wanted to look back to my first artist residency and solo exhibition I had in 2025.

Poster for my solo exhibition 'CLOSER'

“CLOSER” was part of my residency at ACAVA Spode in Stoke-on-Trent, a city in the heart of England known for its rich industrial pottery culture. Having moved to this city three years ago, I found it lovely but struggled to make friends and often felt isolated. I told myself that this was the price of freelancing from home while being an introverted person. This led me to name my exhibition “CLOSER.” Through this exhibition, I hope to bring people together and maintain connections with more individuals in this community.

I walked past Spode Work everyday during my residency, and I find this structure very inspiring.

I created a collage poster featuring the structure and my cat Chuko.

This is how it looks like in the end

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Another old factory that inspired my collage works.

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Other work in progress I made at the residency.

Ink animation for my film 'Statue in the Garden'

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I was showcasing a variety of works including finished and unfinished drawings that I made during my residency at the ACAVA Spode, and other handmade crafts, prints, ceramics, and a preview of my BFI Network funded animated film ‘Statue in The Garden’.

Thank you to Three Counties Exhibition at Arts Keele and ACAVA Spode for making this happen! Photos taken by Dan Southward and myself.