American on The Inside, Oriental on The Outside, and/or Vice Versa

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Complementary Reflections explores the ideas embedded in the medium of mirrors. Traditionally in Iran, mirror mosaics have been used in the ornate architecture of royal palaces and holy places. The consecutive reflections of light create a sense of allure, whether through highlighting the divinity of an atmosphere or through accentuating the glitz and glitter of a noble estate. By breaking down mirrors into smaller tiles, the reflection is also transformed into a fraction of the image, symbolically breaking down the viewer’s pride. In a modern interpretation of mirrors as a metaphoric medium, one take is that they have a voyeuristic nature. Building on the historic and contemporary takes of this mysterious medium, the methodical installation is twofold in that it embodies both a poetic message and a more sinister one. 

These works play on complementary angles in geometry, as they are installed in the corners of the exhibition space, at 90-degree angles. The significance of geometry is ever present in Islamic patterns and architecture, and thus an important component of this choice. The mirrors on each side of the work complete the image through reflecting the fragmented pattern from the other side. Without the mirror fragments, the image on each half would not be tied together; this is another illustrative element that is present in many Persian poems, specifically one by Simin Behbahani.  Another significance of the installation lies in the security camera-esque corner placement that ties into modern day surveillance as well.