First Breath at Salford Quays
Artist impression revealed for Luke Jerram’s new public artwork First Breath on the bank of the River Irwell outside Factory International, ahead of the opening of the new cultural space in June 2023.
Each evening First Breath casts powerful beams of light up into the clouds to celebrate new life. The lights gently pulse to represent the first breaths of babies born that day in Greater Manchester. Audiences can get up close to the artwork, walking in and around the lights, as well as witnessing it from vantage points across the city.
First Breath is being created by world-renowned artist Luke Jerram whose Museum of the Moon has been experienced by more than 20 million people worldwide and his giant 10m Floating Earth was seen by thousands in Media City in Salford and in Pennington Flash near Wigan in 2021. Luke Jerram says: “I want to reveal, celebrate and connect the hidden community of people giving birth each day in Greater Manchester. Disconnected and yet going through the life-changing experience at the same time, there are on average over 70 babies born each day in the city. This new artwork is designed to celebrate the moment a child is born – the extraordinary moment when they take their first breath and a new life arrives in the world.”
First Breath takes place in what will be a unique new public space at Factory International which will come alive in June 2023 with a wide-ranging programme of free events and activities, creating a thriving riverside destination in the city centre for everyone to enjoy. Programmed and operated by the team behind the world-famous Manchester International Festival (MIF), Factory International will be a global destination for arts, music and culture, commissioning and presenting a year-round programme by leading artists from across the world. Factory International has already begun delivering creative education programmes to hundreds of young people aged 9-14 across Manchester and the wider region with a focus around social and emotional learning, teamwork, leadership and resilience.
First Breath will set in motion a new programme of bespoke family activities and early learning opportunities for babies and parents at Factory International connecting a new generation through culture and exploring how art can be woven into daily family life from birth.
Hundreds of babies born in January 2023 will also receive lifetime membership to Factory International – providing priority booking, discounted tickets and exclusive invitations to everything from major exhibitions and epic concerts, to family performances and workshops.
John McGrath, Artistic Director and Chief Executive of Factory International and Manchester International Festival says, “At the turn of 2023 we are celebrating new beginnings with a beautiful public artwork projected from the site of our future home into the night sky. As we welcome hundreds of new-born into the world through Luke’s light sculpture, we will also be breathing life into our new building and, we hope, setting in motion a fruitful life-long relationship with a new generation.”
Photos: Anthony Devlin
