In postcolonial times, when geographical maps have been redefined and travel accounts rewritten, what kind of imagery does the North evoke? And what does it mean when the notion of land has an association with a culture and not necessarily with a country? Curated by Cecilia Andersson and featuring a cross-section of artists at varying stages of their careers, To the Left of the Rising Sun posed questions about the current representations of a terrain that has historically evoked ideas about myth and nostalgia, nationalism, romanticism and an ongoing transformation of cultural identity. The exhibition was part of MIF07’s Manchester Firsts strand, which showcased the dynamism of the local arts scene through a series of new and specially commissioned works.

Produced by Manchester International Festival.