the empty mirror of the sky
Hand-blown glass, steel cabling, projector, video, web cam. 2024
280cm x 430cm x 390cm
Inspired by meditational techniques of sky-gazing, The Empty Mirror of the Sky consists of twelve lenses suspended in an elliptical form to mediate a time-lapse video of the sky overhead.
The video compresses the passage of the sun over the course of a day into 3 minutes, projecting graduating tones of light through the lenses, which each cast a unique optical signature caused by the evolving sequence of their forms, which progress from convex to concave following the astronomical, clock-like ellipse. An accompanying soundpiece composed on electric guitar and effects chimes a cycle of 12 chords to mark the passage of each day.
The projection is split along the horizon of floor/wall, which is mapped in the video so as to invert the path of the sun on the lower section, such that it passes counter clockwise on the floor, clockwise on the wall. The resulting effect is a ‘midnight sun’ where the two opposing movements are entwined through the optical play of light - the upright section following the objective course of the natural environment; the lower section mirrored and inverted as if in a subjective mental image.
“The radiance is held to manifest first as flickering and darting gossamer strands and later as spontaneously present spheres of light. The subtle essences appear in the empty mirror of the sky as reflections of the innate reality. The halos of light ultimately divide and transform into concentric circles, as the circle widens through steady gaze, it eventually pervades immeasurable space” - Dzogchen sky-gazing method as revealed in Tibet’s Lukhang murals