The Refuge at Kimpton Clocktower Hotel will launch I Am The Fly, a powerful new exhibition showcasing original screen-printed posters from Manchester’s pioneering music and club scene of the early 1980s.
Opening on 23rd July, the free exhibition is curated by artist and screen-printer Matthew Rich and will give visitors a rare glimpse at original posters and photographs from a period that helped shape Manchester’s global reputation as a city of music and creativity.
Many of the works featured also reflect the Hacienda era and the wider club culture that defined the city at the time, with visuals and references that directly connect to this influential period.
Fittingly shown at The Refuge, the exhibition’s inspiration is echoed throughout the hotel with nods to FAC51, most notably in Suite 51 – the hotel’s top suite which takes its name and inspiration from Manchester’s club culture, with subtle design touches inspired by the Hacienda era.
Matthew Rich is a respected artist at the heart of Glasgow’s creative and music communities. In 1982, he was working as a screen-printer in Manchester, producing posters that documented and promoted the artists, club nights and venues that would come to define an era.
Matthew Rich said: “These posters were never meant to last. They were pasted onto walls, flyposted across the city and before long, covered over or torn down. Today, they offer a nostalgic glimpse of Manchester at an incredible time. They reflect the energy and determination of the people who helped shape Manchester into what it is today.”
Rhea Leach, Head of Marketing at Kimpton Clocktower Hotel, said: “As we approach 10 years of Refuge, we’re taking the opportunity to reflect on the creative spirit that has always inspired us. Matthew’s exhibition perfectly captures a moment when Manchester was reinventing itself through creativity and music, and we’re proud to showcase it as part of our programme.”
The exhibition will run from 23rd July at Kimpton Clocktower Hotel and is free to visit. Selected works from the exhibition will be available to purchase.
