Free-standing French Mirror, Make-Up Mirror 1999

The project takes a critical and humorous approach to the social mirroring that takes place – at many levels and using many strategies – in public spaces.

The project Free –standing French Mirror and Make-Up Mirror mime their titles, consisting as they do of a French tilting mirror and a portrait mirror. However, discreetly built-in electric motors, sensors and software introduce an aspect of responsiveness: a reaction takes place whenever spectators move in close to study their own mirror image. The French tilting mirror tilts back and forth searchingly, jerkily, before eventually carrying out a complete turn. The portrait mirror turns searchingly from side to side before returning to its start position.

The works were created for a specific context: the Magasin department store in Aarhus. Here, they were placed in the women’s fashion department and the cosmetics department. The project takes a critical and humorous approach to the social mirroring that takes place – at many levels and using many strategies – in public spaces.

Medium: Mirror, polished iron, sensor, electric motor, software

Dimensions:
French tilting mirror: 160 x 60 x 10 cm                              
Portrait mirror: 50 x 25 cm.

Â