Last Friday morning at the Studio had been the busiest of the week, with clients calling more than usual and working toward getting a major project to print. Plus, I was due to catch a 2pm train to London to see Peter Saville speak at the V&A that evening. With all my work complete and arrangements made, I headed-off to town.
The event was staged in the Lecture Theatre of the V&A, an impressively ornate victorian space with a double-height ceiling. As you enter, you have the feeling of being watched because as you choose where to sit, you're flanked by a portrait gallery of artists and scholars. Rather fitting as you're about to face a softly illuminated setting, imagining the many figures from history who would have spoken beneath the vast half-dome high above.
As we patiently awaited the arrival of tonight's guest, idol chatter disturbed the stillness of the auditorium - then he arrived, dressed like a scruffy Bryan Ferry - the designer who contributed classic work for Factory Records, who for me were as much an art movement as they were a record label. And now it too has past into history.
Peter Saville is also blessed (or cursed) with having to re-tell its story. But it's one I'll never tire of hearing; the coming together of seemingly ordinary individuals in Manchester who created extraordinary music, graphics, events and buildings. But maybe the biggest achievement was transforming their shabby home environment into something vibrant and inspirational to the rest of the world. And of course, it happened as a result of seeing the Sex Pistols at a locally organised event which revealed that anything was possible. That art, creativity or self-improvement doesn't have to be the preserve of the upper classes.
I had seen Peter speak before at the Norwich School of Art and Design and wondered if it would be a re-run of that lecture. He did detail his design background but there was much more. Interviewed by critic Alice Rawsthorn (wearing fantastic shoes) she did ask him about his iconic work for the music and fashion industries, but also his more recent role as Brand Consultant to Manchester City Council. This proved to be great stuff - how do you brand a city? And the trick for a city to communicate is through what it does, whether it's culture, heritage, architecture or sport. But there is also the challenge to improve the cities environment - setting a brand profile and living up to it. Or as Peter put it, 'make it better'.
Post-war Manchester was a shadow of the progressive, industrial city of the late 1800's. A place which had created inventions such as the computer (and freaky dancing). Peter's suggestion was to brand Manchester as the 'first original modern city' - and encourage its citizens to be just that. This positive endeavour also saw the launch of the Manchester International Festival in 2007 and its celebration of the work of new artists with a focus on the issues and stories of our time.
The Factory spirit of originality and confidence is still evident today in city projects such as these and an example for wherever we live. There was one more story, which was not planned for this evening and it came from a question from the audience regarding Peter's involvement with the Pennine Lancashire identity. Peter had been encouraged to get involved by the late Tony Wilson, and act as creative director to the Manchester agency Creative Concern for the project. This lead to Peter and Tony spending two days together, driving around to explore the Pennines for inspiration. And it proved to be the last time Peter saw Tony, as he sadly succumbed to cancer, shortly after.
Tony was truly proud of his city, and gets the last word,
"Your city cannot be a derelict shit hole, if the young people of your town believe themselves to be the equal of Cardiff or Birmingham, but believe themselves (in what is most important in the world: the creation of popular culture) to be better than Paris, Tokyo and L.A. – And if you've got that pride in the central feature of your town - that is something to build on."
Click here for more information on the Manchester International Festival and Pennine Lancashire plus, Manchester: Original, Modern
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