CityLife

MIF: Deller leads a Procession of talents

Emos and Goths get ready for Deansgate

TURNER Prize-winning artist Jeremy Deller loves processions. “As humans, it’s almost part of our DNA to be instinctively attracted to big public events that bring us together,” he says.

“A good procession is a public artwork – part self-portrait and part alternative reality, ” adds Deller, the creator of the Manchester Procession on Sunday, July 5.

Commissioned and produced by Manchester International Festival and Cornerhouse, it’s a free, family-friendly event celebrating the Festival’s launch.

Brass bands With participants drawn from across Greater Manchester, Procession represents what Deller describes as ‘northern social surrealism’, combining social clubs, special interest groups, popular music and invited individuals with traditional processional stalwarts such as Rose Queens and brass bands.

Colourful spectacle

The colourful and thought-provoking spectacle will turn onto Deansgate from Liverpool Road at about 2pm and continue for about an hour, come rain or, hopefully, shine.

To accompany Deller’s Procession, Cornerhouse will stage a major exhibition from Thursday until August 23, documenting both the procession itself and the ideas that informed its creation.

A specially-commissioned film of Procession will play as part of the show, alongside a programme of other events.