Born in Helsinki, Finland (1991). Lives and works in Helsinki.
man( at )manyau.fi
Biography
Man Yau (b. 1991) is an artist based in Helsinki, Finland. Yau holds master’s degrees from both the Aalto University of Art and Design (MA, 2018), and the Academy of Fine Arts, University of the Arts Helsinki (MFA, 2023), specializing in material-based practice.
The premise of her artistic work is to explore the feeling of “being on display and under pressure,” a concept she approaches from the perspective of a woman and a BIPOC artist. Yau works with sculptures and installations, often incorporating objects or situations recognizable from everyday surroundings. This includes appropriated aesthetics such as Chinoiserie decoration, or larger spatial structures such as monarch gardens – places where power is represented by forcing a living symmetry. Above all, materials are central to her work, as are the value-laden associations tied to them. Yau draws on the cultural specificity of different material textures, along with the emotions and connotations those materials evoke.
Her work has been previously exhibited at the Helsinki Art Museum in Finland, Boy Konsthall in Sweden, and 198 CAL in London. Yau is currently working as an artist-in-residency at Fonden FABRIKKEN for Art & Design, Copenhagen until the end of 2024.
Education
2020 – 2023
Master of Fine Arts, Sculpture department, The Academy of Fine Arts, University of the Arts Helsinki
2013 – 2018
Master of Arts, Degree Programme in Product and Spacial Design, School of Arts, Design and Architecture, Aalto University
Helsinki
2010 – 2013
Bachelor of Arts, Degree Programme in Ceramic and Glass Design, School of Arts, Design and Architecture, Aalto University
Helsinki
Upcoming & ongoing
2024 –
An artist residency at Fabrikken art centre in Copenhagen, Denmark (3 months). Funded by The Finnish Cultural Foundation
2024
A duo exhibition together with Eetu Sihvonen, Temnikova & Kasela Gallery, Tallinn, Estonia
2025
A collection exhibition, Museum of Contemporary Art Kiasma, Helsinki
2025
A solo exhibition, Turku Art Museum, Studio, Turku
Solo exhibitions (selected)
2024
“Passage”, Helsinki Art Museum / HAM Gallery, Helsinki
2021
“Dried flowers last forever”, Boy Konsthall, Bollebygd, Sweden
2017
“Delfu”, Gallery Huuto, Helsinki
2013
“Semiprecious”, Bukowskis, Helsinki
2012
“Porcelain Decks”, CaliHelsinki, Helsinki
Joint exhibitions & projects
2023
“Lavender Deal”, as part of Niko Hallikainen’s working group, PERFORMA Biennial 2023 / Finnish Pavilion Without Walls, New York City
2022
“wip” together with Maija Fox and Vesa Rahikainen, Outo Olo, Helsinki
2022
“Group Hug”, together with Jade Kallio, Elina Nissinen and Aleksi Martikainen at Project Room, Helsinki
2021
“Midsummer Rose”, together with Lukas Malte Hoffmann, Susan Kooi, Malibu, Susan Ploetz and Feminist Culture House at Outo Olo, Helsinki
2019
“Shiga-Love and Magic Carpets”, together with Jussi Niskanen, Kämp Garden/Garden Room, Helsinki
2017
“There Is A Light That Never Goes Out”, together with Johannes Ekholm and 111X, Gallery Sinne, Helsinki
2014
“Dislocation”, together with Jesse Auersalo and Nina Merikallio, The Hole Gallery, New York City
Group exhibitions (selected)
2024
“In the spirit of Nubben in five ways”, curated by Juha-Heikki Tihinen/Pro Artibus, Gallery Elverket, Tammisaari
2023
“Perceive sea, dunes, mountains in move”, curated by Nimco Hussein and Neicia Marsh, 198 CAL, London
2023
“FLIP! Skeittaus & taide”, Vantaa Art Museum Artsi, Vantaa
2023
“Abundance” curated by Ki Nurmenniemi, Galleri F15, Moss, Norway
2023
“Nuoret 2023”, Kunsthalle Helsinki, Helsinki
2023
“This Coming Together”, Kuva/Tila, The Academy of Fine Arts, Uniarts Helsinki
2022
“Mäntän Kuvataideviikot”, XXVI Mänttä Art Festival curated by Markus Kåhre, Mänttä
2021
“Satin”, Galleria Muuntotila, Tampere
2021
“Easy Fit!”, PORUKALLE, Helsinki
2021
“Kuvan Kevät” – MFA Degree Show of the Academy of Fine Arts, Uniarts Helsinki
2021
“Follow that bird”, Konstepidemin, Göteborg, Sweden
2020
“Goblin Doors”, Online-exhibition organised by Sakari Tervo, Helsinki
2020
“Bird Feeders”, Online-exhibition organised by Sakari Tervo at Pro Artibus Residency, Tammisaari
2020
“Tranquil Playground”, Totan/Betuno.io, Tokyo, Japan
2019
“How to Slow Rush”, organised and curated by Inaway and FemF (Feminist Forum), Titanik Gallery, Turku
2019 – 2020
“Finnish Season” in Brussels: COLLECTIBLE Fair and Spazio Nobile Gallery. In Paris: Galerie de l’Institut Finlandais and Révélations Biennale.
2018
“A Cave For Play”, Online-exhibition organised by Sakari Tervo at Hakaniemi Leikkiluola, Helsinki
2018
“A Passing Permanence”, Space for Free Arts, Helsinki
2017
“FemF Art” (Feminist Forum), Valssaamo, Helsinki
2017
“Käännekohta”, Gallery Sculptor, Helsinki
2017
“La Nuit des Idées”, together with Jussi Niskanen, Cité internationale des Arts, Paris, France
2016
“Object of Desire”, Design Museum, Helsinki
2015 – 2016
“Recorded Matter” in Pomona, California: American Museum of Ceramic Art. In Asheville, North Carolina: The Center for Craft, Creativity & Design. In Tempe, Arizona: Arizona State University, Art Museum.
2015
“Table Talks”, Design Museum Arabia, Helsinki
2014
“Finnish by Nature”, Spazio Milano C ’est Chic, Milan, Italy
2014
“Nordic Passion”, Seoul Museum of Art, Seoul, South Korea
2013
“Norther Exhibition”, Ventura Lambrate, Milan, Italy
Public commissions
2023
“Dear Souvenir”, commissioned by Helsinki Art Museum (HAM) and City of Helsinki
Residencies
2018
Ceramic residency at Shigaraki Ceramic Cultural Park (SCCP), Japan. Funded by The Finnish Institute in Japan
2018
Ceramic residency at Jingdezhen Ceramic Institute in Yiangxi Province, China. Funded by AaltoEE and Aalto University
2017
Artist residency (part of Jussi Niskanen’s working group) at Cité internationale des Arts Paris, France
Memberships & position of trust
2021 –
Jury member for Linnamo Award, awarded by Olga and Vilho Linnamo Foundation
2021 – 2022
The exhibition committee member for The Association of Finnish Sculptors, Sculptor Gallery
2019
Jury member for Vuoden Huiput 2019, Design category
2019 –
Tiffans ry.
2016 –
The Association of Finnish Sculptors
Artworks in collection
City of Helsinki / Helsinki Art Museum (HAM) Collection
Finnish National Gallery / Museum of Contemporary Art Kiasma Collection
Saastamoinen Foundation / EMMA Espoo Museum of Modern Art
Finnish State Art Deposit Collection
Finnish Art Society, Art Lottery 2019 & 2022
Shigaraki Ceramic Cultural Park Art Collection
Aalto University Executive Education Collection
Awards & scholarships
2022
Raimo Utriainen Art Foundation stipend 2022
2021-2023
Mentorship Program, Saastamoinen Foundation, run by curator Angela Rosenberg and artist Hans Rosenström
2021
Anita Snellman Foundation stipend, from the exhibition Kuvan Kevät 2021
2021
Kuvataideakatemian ystävät ry stipend, from the exhibition Kuvan Kevät 2021
2017
“Young Talent of the Year”- award, Muoto gala/Helsinki Design Week
Grants (personal)
2024 –
The Finnish Cultural Foundation, Working grant
2024
Oskar Öflunds Stiftelse, Material grant
2023
Greta och Alfred Runebergs Stiftelse, Material grant
2023
The Alfred Kordelin Foundation, Working grant
2022
Arts Promotion Centre Finland, Material grant
2022
Kone Foundation, Working grant
2022
The Paulo Foundation, Material grant
2021
Finnish Art Society, Young Artist Grant
2021
Arts Promotion Centre Finland, Covid19 grant
2021
Greta ja William Lehtinen Foundation, working and material grant
2020
Arts Promotion Centre Finland, Covid19 grant
2020
Academy of Fine Arts, Material grant
2020
Arts Promotion Centre Finland, Working grant
2019
Arts Promotion Centre Finland, Material grant
2018
Arts Promotion Centre Finland, Working grant
2018
Arts Promotion Centre Finland, Material grant
2017
Konstsamfundet, Material grant
2017
Arts Promotion Centre Finland, Working grant
2015-2016
Kulturfonden för Sverige och Finland, Travel stipend
2014
Consulate General of Finland in New York, Shipping costs grant
2013
Konstsamfundet, Material grant