Rohan Nicol is an emerging Australian jeweller, with a degree from Canberra School of Arts. Rohan undertook a curatorial mentorship with JamFactory-Contemporary Craft and Design in Adelaide in 2001, had a twelve month residency with Object studios in Pyrmont in 1998-1999 and worked with Robert Foster on product development with the Fink & Co production range from 1997-1998. Rohan is currently Technical Officer with the jewellery course at Charles Sturt University and since 1998 has maintained a parallel career as an educator in New South Wales.

Recent exhibitions include Hatched 04, Perth Institute of Contemporary Arts, Perth 2004; new design 2004, Object: Australian Centre for Craft and Design, Sydney 2004; Rohan Nicol, 23 (two cubes), Sherman Galleries Sydney, 2004; 130 degrees, Canberra School of Art, 2003; Pinned, gallery 156, Sydney, 2002.

The jewellery was made for inclusion in 'Transposition: five jewellers responding to Pyrmont's history'. These elegant brooches will add to the Museum's collection of contemporary Australian jewellery. They relate specifically to the Pyrmont incinerator designed by Walter Burley Griffin and Marion Mahoney. Rohan Nicol has looked at the delicate patterns and embellishments on the concrete tiles of the surfaces of the incinerator. Rohan has transposed the decorative elements and motifs into a series of brooches and cuff links. The incinerators sculptural form is reflected in the shape of the pieces. The material used is animal leg bone referring to the trail of cattle which were herded past the incinerator on their way to the abattoirs on Glebe Island.
Anni Turnbull Curator 2005

This series of brooches (3) was created by Rohan Nicol for the exhibition 'Paradise, Purgatory and Hellhole: a history of Pyrmont and Ultimo. They are made from animal leg bone and have pins for attachment on the back. In his earlier works Rohan has used a variety of industrial techniques such as stamping and anodising as well as varied materials in fluid metal forms.

Rohan produced a series of work as part of 'Transposition" 5 jewellery response to Pyrmont's history'. Rohan's work relates to the particular history of the Pyrmont incinerator designed by Walter Burley Griffin and Marion Mahoney. He has looked at the delicate patterns and embellishments on the concrete tiles of the surfaces of the incinerator. Rohan has transposed the decorative elements and motifs into a series of brooches and cuff links. The incinerators sculptural form is reflected in the shape of the pieces. The material used is animal leg bone referring to the trail of cattle which were herded past the incinerator on their way to the abattoir on Glebe Island.

These brooches were displayed in the exhibition 'Paradise, Purgatory and Hellhole: a history of Pyrmont and Ultimo'.

Brooches (3), 'Marion and Walter Burley Griffin Reverberatory Incinerator Series', bone / metal, designed and made by Rohan Nicol, Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia, 2004 - 2005

A collection of three brooches carved from bone and each mounted on a metal base plate with pin. Each brooch represents a different view of the demolished Marion and Walter Burley Griffin designed industrial incinerator in Pyrmont, Sydney, with a long vertical form intersecting low horizontal forms to represent the incinerator chimney and parts of the building.

Designed: Nicol, Rohan;

Made: Nicol, Rohan; Wagga Wagga, New South Wales; 2004 - 2005

See part records for details

2005/181/1