| Jessica Emmett was born in Hong Kong and adopted
by a British couple that were living there at the time. Her
birthmother was a Vietnamese refugee that fled to Hong Kong
after the Vietnam War to escape persecution.
Jessica lived in Hong Kong until 1998 when she moved to the
UK with her adoptive family. She is now a practicing artist
based in Manchester who explores very raw and personal experiences
of being transracially adopted by examining adoption processes
and themes surrounding family, race, colonialism and cultural
diaspora. The foundation of Jessica’s experimental practice
steams from film and photography, which lead to installations,
performance and interactive pieces.
A strong method within Jessica’s practice is the act
of repetition. This reaction is almost spiritual in response
to unlocking memories, be these memories of her own or that
of a cultural consciousness that she has lost along the way
as a result of being adopted.
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| EDUCATION
2004-2005
MA Media Arts (Distinction), Manchester Metropolitan University
2001-2004
BA (Hons) Photography, Manchester Metropolitan University
RESIDENCIES
2006-2008
Lets Go Global, Manchester
2006
Whisper Residency (x2), Chinese Arts Centre, Manchester
SCHEMES
2006-2008
Setting Up Scheme, Design Initiative, Manchester
PAD Scheme (Professional Artist Development Scheme), Chinese
Arts Centre, Manchester
AWARDS/COMPETITIONS
2006
My Life in the News (Winner), Noise Festival, UK
2005
Global 24 (Winner), URBIS, Manchester
2003
Self-Portrait UK (Winner), Media 19 and Channel4, UK
SOLO/GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2007
In Pictures – BBC Vietnamese.com
2006
My Life in the News - Noise Festival, URBIS, Manchester
Sock Bunnies - Residency Open Studio, Chinese Arts Centre, Manchester
Twelve - Curio Shop Art Group, Triangle Big Screen, Manchester
2005
On the Shelf, Rogue Studios, Manchester
The Living Room - MIRIAD (MA Show), Manchester Met. Uni.
Look at Me, National Portrait Gallery, London
2004
BA Photography Degree Show, Manchester Met. Uni,
2003
Self-Portrait UK, National Portrait Gallery, London - UK touring
exhibition
Ogle, Green Room, Manchester
WORKSHOPS
2007
The Games We Play (3 sessions)– Lead Artist, Chinese Arts
Centre, Manchester
2006
Shadow Puppet (2 sessions) – Lead Artist, Chinese Arts
Centre, Manchester
Story Makers (4 sessions) - Lead Artist, Manchester Art Gallery
Puppets (5 sessions) - Lead Artist, Wai Yin Chinese Women Society,
Manchester
Mask Making (2 Sessions) - Lead Artist, Wai Yin Chinese Women
Society, Manchester
Photography (1 Session) - Lead Artist, Chinese Arts Centre
Origami (1 Session) - Manchester In Bloom project (1 Session)
- Chinese Arts Centre Workshop assistant, Manchester Piccadilly
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