Today marks eight years since the Manchester Arena bombing — a tragic event that took 22 lives and injured many more on 22 May 2017. It was a moment that left the city in shock, but also revealed the strength and resilience that Manchester is known for.

The morning after the attack, Lazerian founder Liam Hopkins created a sculpture — a large, five-foot black paper heart — as an immediate and personal response to what had happened. Made from paper and glue, the materials were chosen to reflect the emotional fragility of the moment, while also acknowledging the strength that holds the city and its communities together.

Painted black as a mark of mourning and respect, the sculpture also carried a thread of golden yellow — a subtle nod to Manchester’s symbolic colour. It was a way to show that while the city was deeply affected, it would not be defined by tragedy alone. The yellow was a quiet but optimistic signal of unity and support.

The heart was placed on King Street in Manchester, where it remained for three weeks. Though not designed as a formal installation, it became a space for people to gather, reflect, and pay tribute. Many left flowers or messages; others simply paused in silence. The sculpture stood as a focal point for collective mourning and remembrance.

Following its time in the city centre, the heart was auctioned, with all proceeds donated to Forever Manchester, a charity that supports community projects across Greater Manchester. It was purchased by Affleck’s Palace, where it still stands today as a permanent fixture among other creative tributes to the city — including murals and artworks that reflect Manchester’s cultural identity.

The piece was never intended to be long-lasting or elaborate. It was created quickly, in response to grief, as a way to make sense of what had happened and to offer something — however small — to the people of Manchester.

Eight years on, the heart remains one of Lazerian’s most meaningful works. It stands as a reminder not just of the lives lost, but of how Manchester responded: with strength, care, and unity.

We remember those who were lost, and we continue to stand with everyone affected.