'Mechanical Mirrors' by daniel rozin

[Dreamer]

Mechanical Mirrors
The mechanical mirrors are made of various materials but share the same behavior and interaction; any person standing in front of one of these pieces is instantly reflected on its surface. The mechanical mirrors all have video cameras, motors and computers on board and produce a soothing sound as the viewer interacts with them.

Wooden Mirror - 1999
830 square pieces of wood, 830 servo motors, control electronics, video camera, computer, wood frame.
Size - W 67” x H 80” x D 10” (170cm , 203cm, 25cm).
Built in 1999, this is the first mechanical mirror I built. This piece explores the line between digital and physical, using a warm and natural material such as wood to portray the abstract notion of digital pixels.


[ame="

"]YouTube - Wooden Mirror[/ame]

Trash Mirror - 2001
500 pieces of variously colored trash collected from the streets of New York and artist’s pockets, motors, control electronics, concealed video camera, computer.
Size - W 76" x H 76" x D 8" (193cm ,193cm, 20cm)
Though built 3 years after the Wooden Mirror, Trash mirror was conceived first, However the concept seemed too risky at the time so I decided to build the Wooden Mirror first. This piece suggests that we are reflected in what we discard. The piece celebrates the ability of computation to inflict order on even the messiest of substances - trash.


[ame="

"]YouTube - Daniel Rozin's Trash Mirror (2001)[/ame]

Shiny Balls Mirror - 2003
921 hexagonal black-anodized aluminum tube extrusion, 921 chrome-plated plastic balls, 819 motors, control electronics, video camera, computer.
Size - W 56" x H 50" x D 20" (142cm, 127cm, 50cm)
The third addition to the mechanical mirror group, Shiny Balls Mirror displays a crisp and clean facade of aluminum and chrome utilizing the jewel-like reflections on its balls to form the reflection of the viewer twice: Once on each ball and once on the entire piece.


[ame="

"]YouTube - Shiny Balls Mirror[/ame]

Peg Mirror - 2007
650 wood dowels, 650 motors, video camera, control electronics.
Size 42 inches H, 42 inches W, 6 Inches D
Peg Mirror comprises 650 circular wooden pieces that are cut on an angle. Casting shadows by twisting and rotating, wooden pegs forming concentric circles surround a small central camera. The mirrored image produced in this work is activated by software authored by Rozin that processes video signals and breaks up imagery geometrically, seemingly pixel by pixel. The silently moving wood components in this piece flicker like jewels or coins in the spotlight, challenging our notions about what constitutes a “digital object”.


[ame="

"]YouTube - Peg Mirror, 2007[/ame]

Weave Mirror - 2007
768 C shaped prints 768 motors, video camera, control electronics.
Size 57 inches H, 78 inches W, 8 Inches D
Weave Mirror assembles 768 motorized and laminated C-shaped prints along the surface of a picture plane that texturally mimics a homespun basket. A seemingly organic smoky portrait comes in focus to the sound made by the sculpture’s moving parts. Informed by traditions of both textile design and new media, the Weave Mirror paints a picture of viewers using a gradual rotation in greyscale value on each C-ring. A playful juxtaposition between the rustic and photographic, this sculpture is suspended from the ceiling. Its functional circuitry and wiring is visible behind the picture plane, exposing its craft.



[ame="

"]YouTube - Weave Mirror, 2007[/ame]