Anatomy of an Institution, an exhibition.

Gavin Parry and Dave Penny using the 110-year-old camera.

On Anatomy of an Institution and having my portrait taken by an aged camera. This was not my first encounter with this camera. I first saw it several years ago when, some what neglected; it lifelessly occupied a corner of The Manchester Metropolitan University’s (MMU) photography department. I remember seeing it as a bizarre looking piece of furniture, a cross between an 19th century table and an accordion. Back then it was a mere curiosity, an ornamental relic and a taker-upper of valuable space. On entering the Holden Gallery the 110 year old 12” x 12” camera is more…