Jeppe Hein and The Reflective Surface

Using Mirrors immediately transports a work of art into an interactive piece, because of the reflective surface, we commonly interact with on a daily basis. With Hein's “Mirror Wall” this common interaction is distorted, literally. He describes the 'Mirror Wall' and his other sculptures as having a social quality. This immediately creates an inner and/or outer dialogue between the piece and the audience. By seeing our own reflection and other persons reflections, we see repeated human forms that are identical to us, producing a comfortable and familiar relationship but in a different context from that of our bedroom and bathroom.

'Mirror Wall', Jeppe Hein, 2010

“Something similar happens when visitors get close to Mirror Wall (2010). What at first appears to be a large but straightforward mirror begins to move slightly when approached. Viewing one’s vibrating reflection in it and the accompanying distorted backdrop of the gallery space creates a sense of dizziness and a strange feeling of separation from the familiar. It prompts us instinctively to re-calibrate our spatial awareness and our relationship to what we see and where we are.

Hein’s experiential, perceptual magic tricks are his vehicle for raising engagement between art and its audience. He makes work that can only be experienced through participation, expanding our notion of what art is or could be. ‘For me, the concept of sculpture is closely linked with communication… By challenging the physical attention of the viewer, an active dialogue between artwork, surrounding and other visitors is established that lends the sculpture a social quality.’”

Information found: http://www.saatchi-gallery.co.uk/artists/jeppe_hein.htm