The Explorer’s Chronicle

Thursday 25 May sees the launch of Justin Robertson’s The Explorer’s Chronicle exhibition, which is the first showing of Justin’s new collection of art.

Justin Robertson has been making music for over twenty years under many different guises and has had a huge influence across the musical genres as both an artist and record label owner.  From work with his band Lionrock to his recent ‘Everything is Turbulence’ Long Player (Album of the Month in both DJ Magazine and Mixmag), he is renowned for consistently injecting the UK’s music scene with vitality and originality. As well creating his own work, he is much in demand as a remixer with a huge back catalogue of work for both underground and commercial artists, including New Order, Bjork, The Stone Roses and Paul Weller.

Justin studied philosophy at Manchester University, and attracted by the flourishing musical heritage of the town, he soon fell in love with the emerging alien machine funk that would become the Acid House scene. Working at the legendary Eastern Bloc records in the late 80s, it wasn’t long before he began to make his mark as a DJ, playing at the legendary Haçienda before going on to create and curate two of the UK’s seminal clubs, Spice and Most Excellent (where the young Chemical Brothers discovered their inspiration). To this day he remains one of the most respected and in demand DJs, whether playing at big festivals or cutting edge clubs across the world.

The Explorer’s Chronicle exhibition: 25 May – 17 June

Drawing on the great tradition of botanical sketching, his inspirational work depicts the flora and fauna of this alternate universe, finding inspiration in the patterns of the natural world. Other themes include magik, possession, the supernatural, fantastical creatures, the history of belief and alien life forms. A 27 minute long bespoke soundtrack plus a dedicated book of illustration and text accompanie the works.

The artwork will be available to buy from The Refuge by Volta and Justin will be on hand on Thursday 25th May and over the course of weekend to talk to art lovers about his work. Justin will also playing in the Public Bar, officially marking the beginning of the Electric Weekender.