The Mysterious Presence of Mirrors

The Mysterious Presence
of Mirrors

Series｜Mirrors as Art

Part 2

The Many Faces of Mirrors

Mirrors are objects with many different roles and meanings.

Like the rearview mirrors in cars or the convex mirrors on curved roads, mirrors help keep us safe in our daily lives.

Mirrors also serve a practical role in our everyday routines—checking our skin, applying makeup, shaving, or making sure our outfit looks right before heading out. They are everyday tools, closely tied to our daily lives.

At the same time, mirrors have a mysterious side.
Sometimes, looking into one can feel like peering into another world—just like when we gazed into a puddle as children and imagined a different universe on the other side.

In my case, when I see my face in the mirror in complete darkness, it sometimes looks like a pale, unfamiliar creature.
The expression feels vague and not quite my own—and in that moment of fear, I find myself quickly turning on the light.

The Role of Mirrors
in Interior Design

Mirrors are also incredibly versatile as interior design elements.

Mirrors can brighten a room by reflecting light, or make a space feel larger—almost as if there’s another room beyond the wall.

In commercial spaces, they’re often used to ease the feeling of crowding or to create a sense of the extraordinary.

They can also be used, as seen in teamLab’s installations, to reflect light and objects infinitely, creating effects that disorient our sense of space and direction.

Mirrors as Art

The theme of this series is “Mirrors as Art.”
Of course, the question of what defines “art” can go quite deep.

For the purpose of this series, however, “as art” refers to that quiet emotional resonance you feel when you hang a favorite painting on the wall—the way it brings a space to life and gives it a sense of theme or character.

“Mirrors as Art” are the kinds of mirrors that, the moment you hang them on a wall or lean them against it, go beyond mere practicality—they instantly bring a space to life.

They’re the mirrors that quietly speak to us, offering subtle messages to our lives, and move us each time we catch a glimpse of them.

I’ll be introducing a total of ten pieces in this series—
I hope you enjoy the journey.