What does being Mancunian mean to you?
Whether a native, or transplanted like me, its different for each individual. Personally, I fell in love with Manchester over a long period of time, but when the realisation hit, I was wholeheartedly, head over heels with the city.
In her exhibition Smashed, which opened on Friday at 2022NQ, Amanda McCrann has explored this feeling and in doing so, created some of the most mesmerising mosaics I’ve seen. They shine, they entrance, they beg to be touched – just so you can feel the contrast between slick tile and rough mortar. In the 2022NQ space, they reflect light so that it bounces all around the room, making it glitter, bringing it to life.
Along with lyrics from British bands such as the Charlatans as part of the Kendal Calling project, there are pieces that echo her love for Manchester, as well as those with more prosaic meanings.
In partnership with Nigel Maitland, Amanda has also toured Manchester, with the piece ‘Mancunian’ searching for those willing to have their photograph taken holding it, standing with it, sitting on their lap. People of all ages shapes and sizes, some who came directly to say hello, some approached by Amanda and Nigel – all of them Mancunian and proud.
The photographs reflect this, whether it’s visible in a face, a stance or in one case, a tattoo.
The exhibition opened, with Pasta Paul providing music, Mike Garry providing poetry in his own inimitable style and Amanda and Nigel mingling with the crowd made up of those who had been involved in the projects, friends, family and people like me, curious to see the work Amanda had created. After the sneaky tweets and odd pictures sent by her and Nigel, it was fabulous to see the pieces installed and how quickly the room filled with visitors.
The exhibition is still free to visit today, Monday 10 September (4pm to 7pm) and the Mancunian photography project still ongoing.
Both Amanda and Nigel can be found on twitter and I highly recommend a follow for both the Mancunian project and future work.
