2-Way Mirror Cylinder Bisected By Perforated Stainless Steel

Dan Graham’s work primarily focuses on the notion of time, spectatorship and the phenomenology of viewing, questioning the psychological effects of architecture on the spectator. Graham has deployed a variety of media in order to pursue his investigations, ultimately questioning Guy Debord’s ‘society of the spectacle’: a society obsessed with the media, often mimicking the same interpersonal dynamics that can be found in a TV reality show.

Graham’s 2-Way Mirror Cylinder Bisected By Perforated Stainless Steel (2011-2012) is an outdoor pavilion designed by the artist with the intention of playing with the viewers’ perception and understanding of both inner and outer space. The design of the pavilions, and the two-way mirrors within them, create unexpected reflections and explore the voyeuristic act of simultaneously watching oneself and being able to watch others. They also question how we move and operate in the public sphere: a dimension that both alienates and seduces us.