The lens flare project is a knowingly-futile attempt to make material that which is immaterial—light.

In the large mirror, the sparkle design was made by sandblasting away the silvering; a light is hidden in the wall so that the sparkle emits a mysterious glow. In the small mirror, the design is acid-etched.

Lens flares are sparkles refracted in lenses; it's a special effects cliché that signifies the possibility of magic or transcendence. Its occurrence suggests everyday banality enhanced.

In its most basic function, the mirror is an instrument for making people smile. The large mirrors are highly site-dependent, so I collaged and assembled an edition of 170 miniature multiples by hand. The miniature is a distinct work that explores the social life of the original sculpture by inserting it more directly in to the world.

Images

1. Untitled (Lens Flare, Large Mirror), 2007, mirror, frame, lights, 26 x 32 x 2 inches / 66 x 81 x 5 cm
2. Untitled (Lens Flare, Large Mirror)
3. Untitled (Lens Flare, Large Mirror)
4. Untitled (Lens Flare, Small Mirror), 2007, etched mirror, colored pencil, frame, 13 x 16 x 2 inches / 33 x 41 x 5 cm
5. Untitled (Lens Flare, Tiny Mirror) (Miniature Multiple), 2007, mirrored paper, printed paper, vellum, laser-printed brochure, plastic bag and laser-printed hangtag, 3.5 x 5 inches / 9 x 13 cm, edition of 170
6. Detail with brochure