John Siddique was jointly commissioned by Manchester Literature Festival and Manchester Art Gallery to respond to the exhibition Exporting Beauty: Pilkington’s Pottery and Tiles, featuring over 100 pots and tiles made by the world famous Pilkington’s Tile and Pottery Company between 1893 and 1938. The resulting poems draw inspiration from the exhibits and the craftsmen and craftswomen who lovingly fashioned them; channelling nature in all its glory, from the elements that forged the clay to the animals at Belle Vue Zoo which one of the artists used to visit as part of his observational process.

Two of the commissioned poems Lustre and Belle Vue Narrative were made into films produced by Littestar Media Productions. The films will also be shown on the BBC Big Screen in Exchange Square Manchester throughout the year so look out for them while you're out shopping!