Manchester was one of the first industrial cities in the industrial revolution. When industry declined in the later part of the 20th century this area of the city became run down. It has since become an area of regeneration and developed as a bohemian area with many bars and restaurants with many offering live bands.
As part of the regeneration, many street artists had created murals and graffiti especially on gable ends of buildings.
In 2016 many artists came to the area as part of the Cities of Hope festival and created many more murals. The festival sought to transform an area of the city by creating art which would focus on some key global issues.
The artists were then asked to create murals which were inspired by those issues which ranged from environmental issues to world conflict and the tragedy of child soldiers
This particular mural however was created the following year and was sponsored by the local newspaper, the Manchester Evening News.
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The 22 bees mural - a tribute to those killed at Manchester Arena
"The huge image of 22 Manchester worker bees has been emblazoned on a wall on the side of the Koffee Pot building in the heart of the Northern Quarter.
This new mural is our Manc tribute to those killed in the Manchester Arena attack.
The huge image of 22 Manchester worker bees has been emblazoned on a wall on the side of the Koffee Pot building in the heart of the Northern Quarter.
Each bee, pictured swarming around a honey heart, represents one of the innocent people killed in the horrific attack.
It has been completed over last weekend by graffiti artist Russell Meeham , also know as ‘Qubek’. As word spread about the work of art taking shape people came past to see what he was doing. When the last bee was competed it drew a round of applause.
Two days after the attack, Russ painted the old toilet block in Stevenson Square with bees and two hands joined together in a heart.
It prompted the M.E.N to commission him to create the mural.
Working from atop a cherry picker armed with dozens of cans of spray paint and some music, Russ spent two days creating his masterpiece.
Cafe bosses have previously turned down all requests for it to be used for a mural but kindly agreed to this one.
Speaking as he worked on his mammoth tribute Russ said: “It’s simple but effective, without being too morbid. Everyone will know why we’ve painted it and it’s nice to have been involved in the project.
'I did a piece following the bombing to put a positive message out there to represent the community in Manchester and a tribute to those who lost their lives that wasn’t too morbid.
It got people talking and, from what I saw, brightened a lot of people’s days.'
Passersby have inundated us with praise for the large frieze.
John Nuttall said: 'I think it’s absolutely brilliant. We’ve got to show solidarity with everybody in Manchester - it was such a tragic thing to happen - all those young lives lost. It’s a great memorial, I love it.'
The Manchester bee has been seized on as an image of solidarity following the horrific events at Manchester Arena.
The bee was adopted as a motif for Manchester during the industrial revolution, and seven bees are included in the crest of the city’s arms, which were granted to the Borough of Manchester in 1842.
At the time it represented the hard work of Mancunians and the textile mills that were commonly described as hives of activity, with the workers inside them compared to bees.
But following the horrific terrorist attack it has come to represent Manchester’s indomitable spirit.
The symbol has been appearing all over the city, often accompanied by the slogans ‘Unity is Strength’ or #WeStandTogether.
People have been adding it to their social media profiles, while some have even permanently inked the bee onto their bodies.
Huge numbers of people have queued outside tattoo parlours, waiting to be inked in return for a donation to the appeal for the victims and their families.
It has also cropped up on numerous graffiti tributes around the Northern Quarter and Stevenson Square.
Russ, who also works under the moniker Mural Life, was known for his bee images well before the last month’s atrocity.
Last year he started placing Manchester worker bees all over the city centre in a bid to spark some civic pride.
At the time he said: 'I think people feel proud when they see the symbol of Manchester flying around and it makes you think of all the things Manchester has achieved.”
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