The latest exhibition at Manchester Art Gallery celebrates the enduring influence of home-grown bands New Order and Joy Division.
True Faith brings together work by some of the world’s most notable artists and explores the ongoing significance and legacy of both bands through the wealth of visual culture they have inspired.
Joy Division was formed in 1976 in Salford by guitarist and keyboardist Bernard Sumner and bass player Peter Hook. Singer Ian Curtis and drummer Stephen Morris completed the line-up. After Curtis’ death in 1980 the remaining members, together with Gillian Gilbert, formed New Order, becoming one of the most influential bands of the last 30 years.
The exhibition boasts Peter Saville’s seminal cover designs, plus performance films, music videos, fashion and art by some of the world’s most renowned artists. The exhibition is curated by Matthew Higgs, Director and Chief Curator of White Columns, NY, author and filmmaker Jon Savage, and archivist Johan Kugelberg.
True Faith provides a unique perspective on these two most iconic and influential Manchester bands. Highlights include posters by Barbara Kruger and John Baldessari, and installations by Mark Leckey and Julian Schnabel.
Field Grey’s favourite parts of the exhibition are elements taken from Raf Simons’ seminal AW03 collection in collaboration with Peter Saville – a selection of coats and jackets emblazoned with Saville’s legendary designs.
There is a wealth of video to immerse yourself in, including music videos by Jonathan Demme and Kathryn Bigelow. The exhibition also presents a selection of rarely seen personal materials, such as handwritten lyrics by Ian Curtis for Love Will Tear Us Apart, and New Order manager Rob Gretton’s notepad with notes that laid out the foundations for Factory Records.
The show is part of Manchester International Festival (MIF) 2017, but will run until 3 September. For more information, visit the Manchester Art Gallery website.
Field Grey will be exhibiting at the London Design Fair 21—24 September 2017 at the Old Truman Brewery