Join us for a conversation with artist duo X&J (Xin Wen & JJ Agcaoili) in collaboration with Kakilang, a UK-based contemporary arts organisation that champions East and Southeast Asian voices. X&J will present their new work 2,025 PCM for the first time and share their lived experiences as being migrant creatives in London. They will be joined by Howl Yuan at Kakilang and Leah Jun Oh at Bow Arts to share insights on both organisations’ work, particularly concerning the intersection of housing crises, art studio shortages and the challenges faced by migrant artists.

This conversation will explore the pressing realities of our time, such as housing crises and anti-migration polices, through the lens of artists and creative practitioners from Southeast and East Asian backgrounds, cultures and identities.

• X&J will share their lived experiences as being migrant creatives in London and how that inspired their work (ephemerality of connections, moving annually, cost of living, the transience of London as a city). They will also share how their design engineering backgrounds shape their approach to integrating technology, tools, and workflows from concept to execution as well as knowledge and skills related to projection mapping

• Howl Yuan, Artistic Director will share how Kakilang work with Southeast and East Asian creatives across multiple art forms and showcase artists working at the intersection of diverse practices

• Leah Jun Oh will share insights on Bow Arts’ work, particularly concerning the intersection of housing crises, art studio shortages and the challenges faced by migrant artists

Following the conversation, as a response to the encroaching structural determinism of contemporary life and London’s cost of living crisis, Xin & JJ will present 2025PCM, a projection-mapped film installation at the intersection of immersive media, 3D film production techniques, and physical performance, made for 90-degree building facades around London. Inspired by Xin’s first studio in London, the installation depicts a London flat measuring just one cubic metre, fully furnished with bare essentials with an IKEA-esque aesthetic. It captures the absurdity of a London home that is way too small for a price that is way too high. The film follows Xin as she attempts to make it her own, even if just for a while, as the timer to her own right to live in London ticks down.

In this event, you will:

• Gain insights from other creative practitioners with different knowledges, interests, and lived experiences

• Connect and meet a community of migrant artists, curators, writers and creative practitioners

• Engage in discussion, dialogue exploring the pressing realities of our time through the lens of creative communities

• Peer-to-peer learning on integrating technology into artistic practices as well as knowledge and skills on projection mapping

Following the conversation and presentation, we will open the floor with plenty of opportunities for you to ask questions and connect with others in the room to carry on the discussion.

This event will be held in our courtyard room at Bow Arts Trust, 183 Bow Road, London E3 2SJ. Drinks and snacks will be provided.

More about X + J

X&J (Xin Wen & JJ Agcaoili) is a Chinese American and Filipino artistic duo based in London. Their work explores emerging technology and spatial psychology, and their cultural implications on the human body. Since founding their award-winning practice in experimental film and interactive media in 2023, they have appeared and exhibited internationally in San Francisco, Bilbao, Linz, Singapore, Berlin, Milan, and London.

More about Kakilang

Kakilang produces and presents inspirational interdisciplinary art from a wide spectrum of Southeast and East Asian (ESEA) voices. They pioneer work across multiple art forms and showcase artists working at the intersection of diverse practices.

They champion ESEA cultures and talents by commissioning and presenting festivals, performances, exhibitions and other projects that give voice to marginalised artists—both emerging and established.

About Bow Skills

Bow Arts seeks to support creative professionals at all stages of their careers. In 2015 Bow Arts launched Bow Skills in response to an artist survey which showed over 90% of practicing artists find it useful to receive further support outside formal education.

Bow Skills is a dynamic and relevant programme of Continuing Professional Development (CPD) which is informed by an artist steering group and open to all creative practitioners across London. The programme of talks, panel discussions, new skills labs and peer crits is open to all, with concession rates available to students, over 65s, under 18s, Bow Arts artists and key workers.