Marco Yuen
Marco Yuen (b.2002, Hong Kong) is a multidisciplinary artist based in Norwich, UK. His primary practice uses durational, endurance performances to explore ritualistic performativity, language and cultural identity in diasporic communities.
Yuen completed his BA (Hons) degree in Fine Art from Norwich University of the Arts in 2026. During his studies, he developed interests in curatorial roles, art writing and socially engaged events. In 2023, his sculpture was shortlisted for the Norfolk Art and Design competition. In 2026, his oil painting ‘The Physical Impossibility of Scent in the Mind of Someone Within’ won the visual art category in the Young Norwich Creative Awards; in addition, two of his performances were selected as runner-ups in the performing arts category.
Yuen is the 2026-2027 bursary artist for Cromer Artspace. He is also involved in various local communities, such as being the co-director of FLOCK art programme at Norfolk and Norwich Festival, Young Cultural Leader of Norwich Theatre and gallery assistant at Anteros Arts Foundation. Yuen also took part in different artist groups like Norwich20, CONVERGE and OUTPOST.
Artist Statement
Awaken on the foreign soil where the sun never sets, shackled by the dread of not having a place to call home. I reflect my Hong Kong roots through the ritualistic-performativity-scented multimedia practice.
Curated performances have the anarchic power to grant political voices to the underrepresented groups; I feel compelled to espouse the migrant and diaspora community. No individuality or cultural identity should be repressed by legality or restriction of language.
My interest in performing happenings sparked after the study of Anthony Howell’s The Analysis of Performance Art. This was a catalyst for my breakthrough endurance performance piece ‘Unwritten Embrace Falling Tree Fallen Free’. It enabled my focus upon the participatory roles of ‘the audience’ in his performances; the codependent nature of peaceful stillness alongside disquiet violence; and the performativity in deconstructing pre-existing iconography.
No more word salads. Abandon the encyclopaedic history written by winners of wars. Stop letting politicians tell you that your neighbour is threatening your future when they sit on a cheque you cannot fathom. It shall not be a difficult decision to make - to treat fellow humans with dignity. Have sympathy, that is it, have a heart.
Work
Photo: Olivia White
Photo: Megan Soul
Photo: Millie Hornsby