Exhibition: Highsnobiety Announces Sweet Harmony Rave Exhibition at Depot Mayfield

Following the huge success of Sweet Harmony: Rave Today at Saatchi Gallery in London this summer, Highsnobiety have partnered with The Warehouse Project and British streetwear retailer, size? to bring an “art edit” of the show to the spiritual home of rave, Manchester. The free show will be open for a very limited run between Sunday 8 – Wednesday 11 December and features some highlights from the original exhibition including photographs, video and sculpture, inspired by and recovered from the golden era of British underground culture.

The original show was proclaimed as “the UK’s first major exhibition dedicated to acid house and rave culture.” It is the first time an exhibition that began at Saatchi Gallery will be taken outside of London. The edit will have a particular focus on Manchester and other Northern powerhouses.

Philly Adams, Saatchi Gallery Director and co-curator of Sweet Harmony said: “It makes absolute sense to bring Sweet Harmony to Manchester; with so much history, and the city’s current prominent place in the rave culture scene.”

The days of the Hacienda and Acid House in Manchester take central stage in the exclusive edit but the show also promises to take visitors right up until the present day, featuring the contemporary movements and collectives helping to keep the spirit of rave alive in the Northern capital. Contributors include Hacienda’s resident photographer Jon Shard, sculptor Conrad Shawcross, filmmaker/ art director Brian Cannon and photographers Elspeth Mary Moore, Ewen Spencer and Al Brown. They capture some of the most iconic scenes of UK rave, including The Stone Roses at Spike Island, the style of Northern Soul and satellite scenes in Salford, Luton, Leeds, Liverpool and more.

What better place to host the exhibition than Manchester’s newest home for ravers old and new? Depot Mayfield opened in July with a debut show as part of Manchester International Festival, and has since been home to the huge ongoing Warehouse Project season featuring the likes of Aphex Twin, Nina Kraviz and Skepta. The exhibition is free but ticketed, book below. It follows Highsnobiety’s debut live WHP show in Manchester, headlined by slowthai, Flohio, and Mike Skinner on in the same venue on Saturday December 7th. You can book tickets here.

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Read this and in the mood for a rave? Why not check out our club listings for December 2019.