Nicholas Mangan - Termite Economies Phase 3

Nicholas Mangan's recent body of work, Termite Economies Phase 3, shows sculptures, videos and field recordings that were captured in Australia’s remote Northern Territory, where termite mounds proliferate. Presented in 2020, Termite Economies Phase 3 is the final iteration of a three year project which raises the question; How can termite systems inform new social economies?

Mangan’s work was brought to my attention for its materialization of organic forms and non-human creative agency. Sculptural forms gesture towards the participation of neural and biological systems in art and industry. These themes were drawn out and commented upon in critiques of my Body Mould series. Whilst I find the formal qualities of Mangan’s work fascinating it is his application and critical materialization of hypothesis, material conditions, histories, and industries outside of art that has encouraged me to re-frame my own inquiries.

Mangan’s work can be found on his website here.