My Manchester

About

Jean Hobson has been working on a body of artwork that documents Manchester’s urbanisation over a decade. The work focuses on the architectural transformation of the city, including iconic scenes of Piccadilly Gardens and the Town Hall to gritty back streets in Ancoats. Jean started to work for Children Services, Manchester in 2007 and claimed it marked a turning point in her artistic career, “it was while working here, through a casual glance out of the fifth-floor window of a high-rise office where I was based, that I suddenly became aware of the massive changes that were taking place in the city below me.” From then on Jean began to focus on the changing space of the city centre, “I discovered the ushering in of a different aesthetic with a completely new language. It saw old street names being erased and outdated buildings being demolished or restructured to suit present day needs. It fascinated me, and I knew I had to record it.”

‘My Manchester’ tells the story of the post-industrial, obsolete and out-dated structures that gave way to the post-modern homes, districts and construction developments. The founder of Contemporary Six, Alex Reuben has been representing Jean for seven years and says “the show has been ten years in the making and no artist has put together such a thorough documentation of Manchester’s development. It’s a must-see exhibition for anyone with a fascination of Manchester, its history and architecture.”

This bittersweet exhibition commemorates the fine old buildings that have since been demolished and embraces a decade of hard work and modernisation. Overall, Jean encapsulates the vitality of our magnificent city and home.