Unit X : Face of Chemistry, TRISAIDEKAPHOBIA and Somewhere : 15/05

As Unit X is a collaborative unit, I went to see some of the other things going on around Manchester from other Manchester School of Art students. Most of the goings on were within the Northern Quarter. Unfortunately I didn't manage to photograph all the things I went to see and I couldn't see a lot as I was unable to get out of work. But I did go see two other exhibitions on at the time. This included first year fashion exhibitions. I went to the basement of Incognito in Stevenson Square.

First was a collaborative exhibition between fashion,textiles and media. I really enjoyed the body of work shown here. It used photography and collage methods to create the 'Faces of Chemistry'.

 I really enjoyed the mix of materials and the way different images were rearranged to recreate the images produced. The use of space was efficient and interactive as it allowed you to walk around and see the images from different perspectives.

 The use of materials was also interesting. The printed images on acetate and hung from the ceiling worked well within the dark space. The lighting was well used as it emphasised the faces in these hangings. It was a very interesting space.

In the next room was Triskaidekaphobia, also by first year fashion students as part of Unit x. This was a collaboration between film and fashion. it explored the phobia of the number 13. I enjoyed this installation as it used the space very well. It took advantage of the basement and the lack of lighting which emphaises the ideas of phobias. Additionally, the television as well placed within the small space and the entanglement of material.The film upon the television was only short but was well made and was creepy, the music only furthered this. A very successful exhibition!

I also went to see 'Somewhere', also by first year fashion and film that explored 'black'. When I went to see it, it was a work in the making but it had some interesting things strung from the pillars. From the work that I did see, it was an interesting and various exhibition of interpreting the word 'black'.

I think this element of Unit X is one of the best things about it. It allows people, not only members of MMU but the wider public too, to visit and see the work from the past 8 weeks. It's really nice to be able to see work from other courses too and courses working together.

The Print Fair #1: 2022NQ

On Saturday, I attended the Print Fair at 2022NQ in The Northern Quarter. I'd never been to an event like this before so I didn't really know what to expect

It was a lot more intimate, and a lot smaller, than I thought it was going to be. I really enjoyed the fact that this event brought together a community of people and local artists. People chatted away with strangers and bonded over Kopperberg and the prints they bought. I may have got sucked in and bought a few things but I really enjoy the "handmade" and independent work. This was one of the things I enjoyed the most - there was no commercial aspect, yet there was a sort- of capitalist aspect in making money, but this was mostly to fund making more prints and further their work rather than making a profit.

This made me reflect upon the Zine fair and I think it'd be nice to create a community similar to the Print Fair. It's nice to see people interested in a less mainstream thing come together and enjoy the handmade and the lack of commercialism. As 2022NQ is one of the contenders for the Zine Fair, it was a good chance to see the space. Although small, it helped create the intimate atmosphere and a buzz of creativity.

A useful list of illustrators, artists, zinesters etc is available here.

Salford Zine Library // Nexus Cafe

All images taken myself - Zines available from Salford Zine Library

The Salford Zine Library, situated in the Nexus Cafe in the Northern Quarter, had a wide variety of zines. They came in many forms and covered a variety of topics from feminism to socialism to bulimic whales to personal memories.  The huge variety of types of zines gave me a lot of inspiration for presentation of my zine. I preferred the zines that had an evident element of handmade or craft or is personal to a person. This allowed me to feel closer to the maker and more of a connection. Additionally, the ideas of handcrafted and personality seem to make the zines much more labour intensive suggesting the strong ideas and importance to the maker.