Susan Gunn draws inspiration from the changing evolution of the city and events that take place around her. Greater Manchester is the focus of a modern-day renaissance. A city with a rich history as the epicentre of the industrial revolution, it is presently undergoing a significant period of flux and development. Peppered with high rise residential and commercial new builds, the artist’s own studio occupies a soon to be redeveloped site on Greengate.
For this exhibition Gunn has harvested earth, concrete and stone from the St John’s site at Old Granada Studios where the new Rem Koolhaas designed Factory arts building will be built. A historical site of invention and budding creativity forms the concept and idea behind new, experimental work included in this show. Earth excavated from this area has been subject to a mechanical process to transform it into a dust resembling pigment.
New works included in this exhibition are a contemporary monument to the history of the materials. In no way nostalgic, they express a literal connection to the earth and a primal, human ability to regenerate, recycle and transform: a celebration of reinvention and evolution.
With thanks and kind permission to
Katie Popperwell at Allied London
Mark Ball at Manchester International Festival
Additional thanks
Mark Devereux Projects
Lambert Civil Engineering
Alustretch UK
Art Graphics Ltd