Think you’ve seen mirror mazes? We went along to a preview of Olivier Award-winning designer Es Devlin’s spectacular new London-based art installation, Mirror Maze, and were left with much to reflect upon.
Exploring scent as a vessel through which to voyage into the realms of memory and identity, Mirror Maze is based at Copeland Park in Peckham for five days only this week, from the 21 to 25 September, and invites audiences to explore an elaborate, dazzling and invigorating maze of mirrored walls and immersive graphics.
Es herself was in attendance to guide us through the spectacular exhibition, which contains a specially designed fragrance only available at the installation. As Es commented, “Like my work, this scent only exists temporarily – so if you’d like to experience it, you’ll have to come down to Peckham in the next 5 days!”
Viewers are shown a film of the installation being crafted at the hands of a designer, before physically entering through a hole in the projection (“I’ve always wanted to make a film which audiences can physically go inside!” Es said). An ethereal atmosphere permeates the air of the Mirror Maze, amplified by an uplifting background sound design, while several rooms inside contain yet more fascinating designs; Es compared these to a jasmin scented candle in her bedroom which, as it burned down, provided the aromatic backdrop to numerous events in her own life.
The enthralling Mirror Maze is opening as part of a number of “hero” projects which constitute The Fifth Sense, an initiative by i-D in partnership with Chanel celebrating women across the creative industries. Amongst Es’ lauded design credits are the closing ceremony for the London 2012 Olympics and the Olivier Awards ceremony, while she has also worked with Adele, U2, Kanye West and the Royal Opera House.
On the basis of the preview we attended, we would certainly encourage audiences to head to Peckham to experience the multi-sensory installation for themselves.
Mirror Maze by Es Devlin is commissioned by The Fifth Sense, a partnership between CHANEL and i-D. All images are courtesy of i-D.
For more information, please visit The Fifth Sense’s website.