Mirror Mind (Installation & Photography)

In this series of Installations In Victoria Park, London and then photographs, a collection of fallen tree trunks lies with carefully arranged mirrors and black cloth installations. The mirrors capture fragments of the sky, reflecting serene expanses of blue that contrast sharply with the earthy textures of the severed trees. This visual dialogue between the mirrors and the natural elements invites deeper contemplation through the lens of Zen Master Bankei’s “mirror mind.” Bankei’s “mirror mind” embodies a state of pure awareness, reflecting all things without attachment or distortion. Here, the mirrors serve as metaphors for this awakened consciousness, presenting unblemished reflections of the sky and the surrounding environment. Yet, the reflections are not perfect – they are distorted by the angles and shapes of the mirrors, reminding us that our perceptions are often fragmented and incomplete. The trees and sky appear fragmented, their images bent and twisted, suggesting the fluid nature of reality and perception. The presence of the black cloth introduces an element of nihilism, symbolizing the void or the “nothingness” often associated with existential thought. This darkness envelops the trees, suggesting that true clarity and awakening emerge not from the abundance of light, but from an intimate understanding and acceptance of the void. The black color, absorbing all light, is a powerful symbol of the ultimate ‘unknowability’ and the inherent emptiness at the heart of existence. Among the scattered trunks, some left to decay naturally and others cut and arranged, the mirrors reflect distorted images of the sky and the trees. These distortions remind us of the fragmented and imperfect nature of human perception. The interplay of light and dark, reflection and absorption, creates a visual symphony that speaks to the transient nature of life and the cycles of growth and decay.