UK CHINESE UNICORN AND ARTS ACADEMY IN COLLABORATION WITH THE SOUND AGENTS CELEBRATING CHINESE NEW YEAR

A pleasure to work with The Quirky Quarter, Duke Street, Liverpool, designing a window to celebrate Chinese New Year - Year of the Horse - 2026

Thanks to Colin Wan, UK Chinese Unicorn and Arts Academy, who worked in collaboration with The Sound Agents loaning his beautiful Unicorn, flags and musical instruments.

Photographs Moira Kenny-Campbell

 

The Sound Agents John and Moira in the Quirky Quarter

SCULPTURE FOR SEAMEN IN CHINATOWN CONSULTATION AND DESIGN

 

An idea for the site to place the sculpture.
This is not the actual design or size it is an artists impression
Image generated by AI by Moira Kenny-Campbell

The Sound Agents, artist duo John and Moira, are busy working on an idea for a public sculpture for Liverpool Chinatown. This is not a new idea, rumour has it, "the idea was first written on the back of a cigarette packet in the Nook pub in Nelson Street after members of the community had a few drinks a whole life time ago" Brian Wong one of the founding members and Chief Executive of Liverpool Chinese Business Association

The Sound Agents are currently carrying out consultation on Friends of Liverpool Chinatown Facebook Group Friends of Liverpool Chinatown | Facebook and arranging a number of meetings with community and business people in the area and Liverpool city council. 

This public sculpture will serve as a permanent act of remembrance connected to Liverpool’s docklands and Chinatown, located a short walk from the oldest Chinese arch in Europe.

The area has long been home to seafaring communities, with hundreds of local families dependent on dock work and the Merchant Navy. Liverpool played a key role in the movement of the Chinese Labour Corps during the First World War, with personnel passing through the city en route to France. During the Second World War, more than 20,000 Chinese seamen were stationed in Liverpool, contributing significantly to Britain’s wartime maritime effort.

In 1946, over 2,000 Chinese seamen were forcibly repatriated. Many were never seen again. Their families, including partners and children who remained in Liverpool, were left without explanation or recognition, often believing they had been abandoned.

The proposed sculpture will commemorate:

• Seamen of all backgrounds connected to Liverpool’s docks
• The Chinese sailors who lived and worked in the city
• The families affected by loss, separation, and long-term silence

By creating a permanent, accessible artwork in the public realm, the project addresses a significant gap in public acknowledgement and contributes to a more inclusive understanding of Liverpool’s maritime and social history.

 

 

CHINESE SCULPTURE FOR CHINATOWN?

The Sound Agents met with Nick Liu in his office in Kingham House, Liverpool Chinatown to discuss the idea of a Chinese sculpture for Chinatown to commemorate Chinese seafarers. Next steps are meeting with the community leaders and the descendants of the 1946  forcibly deported Chinese seamen 

Nick Liu: Photo, Moira Kenny-Campbell

 

LIVERPOOL DOCKERS ARCHIVE DEPOSITED TO LIVERPOOL RECORDS OFFICE

 

Vicki Caren, Lead Archivist. Photo: Moira Kenny-Campbell

The Sound Agents, John Campbell and Moira Kenny-Campbell, deposited the Liverpool Dockers Archive from their recent Exhibition commemorating the 30th Anniversary of the Dockers Dispute, to the lead Archivist, Vicki Caren at Liverpool Record Office, Central Library, William Brown Street, Liverpool. 

The Archive is now on permanent loan and will be available for generations to come who will have an opportunity to learn of the heritage of the Dockers Dispute and the vitla work the Women on the Waterfront (WOW) carried out in solidarity with the sacked men. 

THE SOUND AGENTS LAUNCH NEW EXHIBITION LIVERPOOL DOCKERS DISPUTE '30 YEARS ON'

 

Click on the link to read artinliverpool.com article here: 

The Sound Agents launch new exhibition commemorating 30 years since the Liverpool Dockers Dispute