The Centre for Chinese Contemporary Art (CFCCA) presents the UK premiere of Sun Xun’s ‘What happened in the year of the dragon’. On the 19th, 20th and 21st of February three of Sun Xun’s films will be projected onto the side of St. Ann’s Church in Manchester City Centre in celebration of Chinese New Year.

“Stately Shadows” – a major solo exhibition of Sun Xun in Gallery 1. Sun Xun, tipped as one of the rising stars in contemporary animation, will be screening the UK premiere of his animation “What happened in the year of the dragon” along with a selection of the artist’s earlier animation and video works.

Working with the Heart of Manchester BID (Business Improvement District), CFCCA will be screening three of Sun Xun’s films onto the side of St Ann’s Church in St Ann’s Square as part of the city’s Chinese New Year celebrations. The projections will be designed by leading Northwest digital public art producers Illuminos who will bring the films to life on the front of one of Manchester’s most treasured buildings.

CFCCA curator Ying Tan says: “We are thrilled to have this opportunity to screen a selection of Sun Xun’s animations in a public space. He is one of the most talented and prescient animators around at this moment and his animations are beautifully haunting. We are very thankful to the Heart of Manchester BID and also to St. Ann’s Church in being so hospitable and helping us celebrate contemporary Chinese culture during the city’s Chinese New Year festivities. It is also a privilege to be working with such talented digital artists as Illuminos.”

Chinese New Year 2015 Activities

From 19th – 22nd February, Manchester will be hosting its largest party yet to welcome in the Year of the Sheep, with thousands of red lanterns decorating the city’s shopping streets. Working with Heart of Manchester BID and CityCo, CFCCA will be delivering a series of themed arts and craft workshops across the city with local artists such as Naomi Kashiwagi, who will be teaching families how to make banging paper fireworks, and Pui Lee, who will be facilitating a variety of activities relating to the Year of the Ram in his ‘Be Ewe’ workshops.

Pui Lee ‘Be Ewe’ workshops – 19 & 21 February, 12-3.30pm
Naomi Kashiwagi’s Bangin’ Fireworks – 20 February, 12-3.30pm

In addition to the city centre workshops, CFCCA will also be holding our own family friendly “Worksheep” activity sessions running from Wednesday 18 – Sunday 22 February, 11am-3pm each day involving activities such as sheep-shadow puppetry and origami sheep making.

Family Friendly Worksheep – 18-22 February, 11am-3pm

Other events will include a Chinese food fair in St Ann’s Square, alongside live music, performances and light shows, Cai Guo-Qiang’s installation ‘Unmanned Nature’ at the newly reopened Whitworth Art Gallery, family craft events at Manchester Art Gallery, customisations, designer appearances and themed events across city centre stores – and the famous dragon parade and fireworks finale.