An Evening with Graham Massey

My brother and I had the opportunity to attend a special event at Manchester Art Gallery, featuring the music of Graham Massey and the art of Gwon Osang. It was a night of cultural fusion and creative inspiration.

Graham Massey is a legendary figure in the Manchester music scene, best known as a member of the electronic pioneers 808 State. He is also a versatile and adventurous musician, who has collaborated with artists ranging from Björk to Toolshed. For this event, he performed a solo set of experimental and ambient sounds, using various instruments and devices, including the Tenori-On, a futuristic musical interface developed by Yamaha.

Gwon Osang is a Korean contemporary artist, who makes extraordinary life-size sculptures of people using hundreds of photographic images to build up the surface appearance of his models. His works have both photo-realist and surreal qualities, and explore themes such as identity, memory, and representation. His exhibition at Manchester Art Gallery, titled Deodorant Type, features 14 sculptures, including a number of new works commissioned by the gallery.

The event was part of the Asia Triennial Manchester 08, a festival of visual culture that showcases the work of Asian artists in the city. The theme of the festival is “protest”, and it aims to challenge stereotypes and provoke dialogue about the issues facing Asia today.

The highlight of the evening was the unveiling of Gwon’s sculpture of Graham Massey, which was displayed in the entrance hall of the gallery. The sculpture is a stunning tribute to Massey’s musical legacy and influence, and captures his distinctive style and personality. Massey himself seemed delighted and honored by the gesture, and thanked Gwon for his artistic vision.

The event was a rare opportunity to see two masters of their craft in dialogue, and to witness the synergy between music and art. I was impressed by the diversity and creativity of both Massey’s and Gwon’s works, and by the way they complemented each other. It was also a chance to learn more about the culture and history of Korea, and to appreciate the connections and differences between East and West.