Description
Since the 1970s, Michael Craig-Martin has created much of his work using the same palette of fourteen vivid colours. He also uses a limited repertoire of symbols so, for example, the metronome in this work is also featured in his paintings Knowing (1996) in the Tate Collection and Inhale (Yellow) (2003) at Manchester Art Gallery. The images used are intended to be emblematic of the ‘essence’ of that particular article, however, their meaning alters as they are viewed within new contexts. Craig-Martin initially uses a computer to work out the composition of a work, experimenting with the size, position and colour of each component.

Michael Craig-Martin was born in Dublin, but moved to the United States as a child, returning to Britain in 1966. His first solo exhibition was at the Rowan Gallery in London in 1969. Since then he has exhibited in numerous solo and group exhibitions, around the world. He has also taught at Goldmiths College, London, since the early 1970s and Damien Hirst, Gary Hume and Sarah Lucas are among his former students.

This work has been selected to mark the 150th anniversary of the founding of the Hallé Orchestra. Charles Hallé, the German born pianist and conductor, worked in Manchester conducting a small orchestra who performed for the local ‘Gentlemen’s Concerts’. The orchestra was increased in size for performances at the Manchester Art Treasures exhibition of 1857. At the close of the exhibition, keen for the expanded orchestra not to disband, Hallé funded the inaugural Hallé Concert, held on 30th January 1858.

Art Treasures in Manchester: 150 Years On, an exhibition marking the 150th anniversary of the original Art Treasures exhibition, is at Manchester Art Gallery until 27 January 2008.