Jo-Lene Ong is Curator at esea contemporary, Manchester. Her practice engages with counter-colonial worldviews, speculative histories, and aesthetic strategies of resistance. Previously, she served as Programme Advisor for the 12th Seoul Mediacity Biennale (2023). Ong’s curatorial work spans exhibitions at Framer Framed, Amsterdam; Kunstinstituut Melly, Rotterdam; Other Futures Festival, Amsterdam; ILHAM Gallery, Kuala Lumpur; National Art Center, Tokyo; and Mori Art Museum, Tokyo. She has contributed to art publications and edited volumes with De Appel and esea contemporary. Ong is a graduate of the De Appel Curatorial Programme (2017/18) and has participated in fellowships and residencies with the Asia Cultural Council, New York; MMCA Korea; Delfina Foundation, London; Ishibashi Foundation; and Japan Foundation. Her curatorial approach emphasises independent learning and connections across less-networked regions. She recently co-led a curatorial exchange for Sharjah Biennial 16 during April Acts, and in 2024, she co-initiated the Fictional Healing Collective Filmmaking Lab and CounterArchive, a recurring programme exploring alternatives to dominant historical narratives.
Professional Affiliations
- esea contemporary
Membership Type
- Member