Tribute to Ian Curtis in Macclesfield

Street artist ‘Akse’ has began painting the Ian Curtis mural outside the bus station on Mill Street, Macclesfield

The Manchester street artist, commissioned to produce the mural by Cheshire East Council, has been spray-painting similar projects over a varied 30-year career.

His recent works include murals of the late British army officer and fundraiser Captain Sir Tom Moore, and Manchester United footballer Marcus Rashford MBE, both in Manchester.

The mural will be completed this Friday.

Check out the image and you may just make out the drone that Akse uses to view his work from a distance whilst spraying.

Ian Curtis was the iconic frontman of Joy Division whose biggest hit, which still commands airtime more than 40 years after its release, was ‘Love Will Tear Us Apart’. Ian was brought up in Macclesfield, attended King’s School in the town and his ashes are buried in Macclesfield Cemetery. He took his own life in 1980. 

Janet Jackson MBE of the Macclesfield Cultural Forum, said: “This is a wonderful day for anyone with a connection to Macclesfield and particularly those, who may have grown up with or simply felt a connection to Ian and Joy Division. This mural speaks even more loudly than that though. It can, and will be, a tremendous source of inspiration for many years to come.”

Simon Bushell, arts project manager and member of the Cultural Forum, added: “Bringing someone of the calibre of Akse in to deliver this fantastic project is a real coup, his work is outstanding. But today is about remembering someone, who for many, was a real trailblazer – the legendary Ian Curtis.”