When Gusto Restaurant & Bar opened in the city centre on Deansgate in December 2014, they commissioned renowned local artist Michael J Browne, to complete a huge, intricate, Renaissance style painting of Manchester.
To say `every picture tells a story` would be an understatement for this artwork as Michael (originally from Moss Side) has included a vast array of iconic individuals and places past and present. He also decided to open up to the public an opportunity to submit ideas for a title that encapsulates the project. The winning phrase, Manchester’s own Northern lights, has been painted onto his portrayal of Central Library.
Michael says of the project,
'The painting is full of faces/achievements of well-known Manchester people from history. Ranging from the subject of the industrial revolution, back to back houses, to the Manchester ship canal, to Coronation Street. In the journey there are Manchester figures ranging from Emeline Pankhurst, Sheila Delaney, Kirsty Howard. Playwrights, novelists, scientists. There's Alan Turing, Ernest Rutherford, Rolls/Royce, Joule, Noel Gallagher, Bee Gees. There are also sub stories in this painting. The whole image is held together with the theme of renaissance art, as a developmental journey through time. With 'Leonardo Da Vinci' -esque angels carrying books of knowledge, around Central Library, the hub of knowledge and also the 1st public library in the country I believe. The painting is over 5 metres across by over 1.5 metres high. It is oil on canvas. The initial idea came about via the Gusto interior design team whilst I was living in Rome. The project brief centred around 'Central Library' and muses holding books, showing faces of Manchester's influential figures. Gusto’s location on Deansgate was previously the temporary accommodation of Central library.'
Gusto have filmed the entire project with a time-lapse camera so a 45 second clip.
Gusto Painting Timelaps from Deansgate Media Group on Vimeo.
Gusto, Lloyd Street off Deansgate.