Map Ref.10. The gravel bed to the right of the main path leading from the Gallery building to the Lake Burley Griffin. The work is shown on the bare gravel at the time of installation in 1982; with a school group in about 1992, and as it is now, in 1995.
The subtle interaction of basic geometric forms with each other and the environment in which they are placed, has been a serious theme for Flugelman since the 1970s. By working with reflective stainless steel, Flugelman creates works which engage with both the viewer and the environment. These works provide instant entertainment by distorting the reflections and multiplying the angles, like a fun park mirror.
In this work, Flugelman used a series of seven linked cones, set on a horizontal plane. In other works he has used other shapes on the plane to create similar effects. (For example the 7 tetrahedrons, "Festival sculpture", 1974, located at the Adelaide Festival Centre, Adelaide.) The number seven is frequently regarded as a magical number, associated with infinity and celestial harmony. Each cone has been set at a different angle to its neighbour, like a series of spinning tops.
Whilst the sculpture may appear light, it is made of a heavy steel. Each cone was manufactured in Adelaide, before being transported by road to Canberra. The cones were welded together on the site, under the supervision of the sculptor.
(In order to maintain the steel's reflective shine, it is necessary to polish the surface periodically.)
© 1995 Jane M Hyden
