Losing Cohesion

20 September – 18 October 2025

Losing Cohesion draws direct inspiration from the unique landscape and weathered architecture of Fort Dunree. Drawing on years of observation and research, this work is a direct and heartfelt response to the unique environment of this place. Susan Mannion has drawn inspiration from the quiet, persistent erosion of the site’s buildings and landforms – the rusting iron, the exposed wooden frames, and the beautiful attrition caused by wind, rain, and sea over time. She has masterfully used techniques that mirror the environment itself, distressing and refiring enamels on copper to create surfaces that echo the erosion of the fort. Polaroid photographs – lifted and re-mounted onto watercolour paper – capture fleeting moments of decay, reimagined as delicate, layered compositions.

Losing Cohesion invites audiences to look closely at the marks of time and environment, and to consider how decay can become a powerful source of creativity.

The artist says “Fort Dunree has been a muse for her for many years; its structures tell such a powerful story of time and nature. I’ve challenged myself with new techniques to capture that essence.”