Some Kinds of Duration by Nicholas Mangan

By Anneliese Millk
Gallery 3, Centre for Contemporary Photography, 404 George St, Fitzroy, Melbourne

Until 01.04.2012

What do an outdated photocopier, a demolished incinerator and an ancient Mayan Palace have in common? The answer apparently lies in duration, design and decay. Nicholas Mangan’s mixed media installation Some Kinds of Duration explores the symbiosis between these seemingly disparate components, seeking to reveal multiple histories simultaneously and a surprising continuity between forms.

Some Kinds of Duration is the outcome of Mangan’s archival investigation into the history of the Pyrmont incinerator. Designed by architects Walter Burley Griffin and Marion Mahoney in 1935, the incinerator destroyed the waste of Sydney's population until 1971. Despite being a utilitarian, urban building, the incinerator’s design embraced delineated art deco and bold Mayan reliefs. The impressive structure was finally demolished in 1992, although remnants of its surface decoration have been preserved in the Powerhouse Museum.

2012 Glover Prize

By Kylie Eastley

Each year the Glover Prize interests and delights with its incredibly diverse collection of works that hang on the unassuming white walls of the Evandale show pavilion. It’s Australia’s richest landscape art prize and every few years it seems to attract controversy and derision when the winner is announced. 2012 is one of those years. Before we get into that I want to talk about a few of the works that struck a chord with me.

Each year I find paintings that I love, I hate and I feel indifference towards. While I could have reflected on most of them I have selected a few to discuss in more detail. The 43 entries ranged from photorealism to abstract and everything in between and I am drawn to so many of them for so many different reasons.

Paul Snell’s Lull #201201 is a large rectangular lambda* print on metallic paper. Hung in the traditional landscape format this is an abstract work with high gloss lush green blocks of colour book ending thin strips of contrasting colour which is positioned centrally. This work leaps from the wall and creates a beautiful sense of landscape and lusciousness.