Now showing: Free public art installation Gratitude pays tribute to the NHS

Remember clapping for the NHS? This exhibition goes one better. Gratitude is a public art installation which pays tribute to NHS staff and all key workers for their ongoing courage and dedication during the pandemic.

Wild in Art have been working their magic with expertise, insights and a vast creative network for more than ten years, creating popular art events across the globe. They were the team responsible for 2018’s ‘Bee in the City’ trail.  Now, they’re delighted to announce that their new exhibition ‘Gratitude’ is on display at Manchester’s St Peter’s Square until 12 September.

The free exhibition, which will also go on to visit Birmingham, Edinburgh and London, will consist of 51 sculptures, many designed by renowned artists and designers including fashion designer Pam Hogg, sculptural artist Andrew Logan, one of the UK’s leading ceramic artists, Kate Malone and the project’s creative ambassador Dame Zandra Rhodes. It will also feature works by prolific Manchester artists Guy McKinley, Hammo and others.

Enclosed by mirrors on two sides, Gratitude creates infinite reflections of the stunning artwork, highlighting the endless dedication from NHS carers and key workers across the country. The mirrors also ensure visitors become part of Gratitude, creating an immersive experience and reflecting the contributions of the entire population.

The installation features real-life stories and poems about key workers via audio, a selection of which have now been recorded by the likes of actor Christopher Eccleston, Julie Hesmondhalgh, Norman Cook (Fatboy Slim), John Thomson, Jamie-Lee O’Donnell, Shobna Gulati, Adil Ray and KT Tunstall.

The installation is open to the public before the sculptures are auctioned off at a later date, where substantial proceeds will be donated to NHS Charities Together, which supports the NHS, including its hospitals, ambulance services, community and mental healthcare providers and vital partnerships.

STATUES LEFT TO RIGHT: Digital Conscience by Nomad Clan – Double Bubble, Toil and Trouble by Guy McKinley – Not All Heroes Wear Capes by Sally Chinea – Faces of Lockdown by Hammo – Lockdown by Lei-Mai Lemeow – Fly Me a Rainbow by Jina Gelder Illustration