Marco Yuen, one of the Cromer Artspace bursary students 2026, has won a prize at the Young Norwich Creative Awards. Congratulations.
A great honour receive the recognition from the Young Norwich Creative Awards, and my beloved creations earned their spotlights in a crowd of wonderful creative minds. The winning painting started as a mistake, with an incorrect formula of whiting powder, rabbit skin glue and water creating an ‘undesirable’ cracking effect. But then I played with the accident and turned it into a visually and symbolically powerful piece.
I never dreamt of ever being able to call myself an artist when I first stepped foot on British soil 5 years ago, my artistic voice was hidden for the longest time as it couldn’t possibly put bread on the table for me. Starting a Fine Art degree in @norwichuniarts was a complete take of an all-in risk, or the Chinese saying: break the pot and sink the boat (破釜沉舟), an brave crusade with no way back. Turns out, I can never learn to shut my mouth, I always have to say something because there is always something that needs to be said.
I am forever grateful for this honour, and thank you @youngnorwichcreativeawards and all of the Norfolk sponsors that contributed towards this wonderful celebration of young voices. Not only was this a huge financial boost for my creative projects, but also a confirmation that my outcry deserves to be heard, a nod to my direction that is slowly revealing itself, and dedication is bringing me somewhere! Can’t wait for the mentoring opportunities and work with YNCA in the coming year!
Winner of Visual Art & Photography category:
The Physical Impossibility of Scent in the Mind of Someone Within (2026) Oil on canvas 120x120cm
Runner-ups of Performing & Production Arts category:
- Ugly Handwriting: I Love You (2026) Digital collage
- What Prometheus Brought Us Cannot Be Taken Away (2024-2026) Live performance documentation short film
Thank you @lowbae.ceramics and @photography_ccn for the lovely photos xx