The Altogether is the latest exhibition by the artist Chris Coekin. Over the past five years he has been visiting and producing artwork in a factory manufacturing copper wire based in Sandbach, Cheshire.

The exhibition is a multi-layered project that investigates the notions of art, work and struggle. Along with a series of staged photographic portraits, Coekin has produced music sourced from the factory floor and pressed on to seven-inch vinyl records which visitors can listen to. 

The series of photographic portraits depict the employees of the factory – the manual workers, the backbone of the production, the people who occupy the workspace. Coekin considered how he wanted to portray them and found his inspiration in the iconography of trade union banners. Skilled artisans produced the paintings depicted on the banners, many of which date back to the 19th century. The final images appropriate the poses and stances that the banners portray. 

The People’s History Museum’s story focuses on the history of ordinary working people and in addition visitors can see some of the trade union banners that inspired the artist in the main galleries (the museum holds the largest collection of historic trade union and political banners in the world). 

The exhibition is on display from Saturday 19 November to Sunday 8 January 2012 and is located in the museum’s Engine Hall.  Admission is free to all and the museum and exhibition are open every day from 10.00am to 5.00pm.