Post date: Aug 25, 2011 7:30:47 PM
Have just completed another piece of art. It is titled "Mine vs Yours". It is 12" long x 5 1/2" wide x 7" high". On the bottom is the follwing statement: "Be cautious, as not to be too judgemental when you peer into and question my life an my world.......you may be rudely awakened and discover they are merely reflections of you and yours".
My fascination with and the use of mirror plexiglas in my art over the years is something I often get questions about. It seems like a simple material, but can be quite difficult to use, as it is constantly reflecting, not only the intentioned subjects and pieces within the art, but also everything outside and around the art. It's like trying to deal with two bratty kids in the mall, heading in opposite directions. When you stand back 4-6 feet, you aren't as aware of these secondary images/reflections. You know they are there, like those brats, but haven't created a major problem yet. At that focal point, you are basically viewing the piece as art and for what it is trying to say/project. However when you start getting closer, the chaos begins and you sense that those brats are up to no good. Can be quite frustrating at times Trying to photograph such pieces can be one helluva task. Like those little brats, they never seem to sit still and statically attract every minute particle of dust or dirt. You find yourself taking numerous test shots to eliminate those secondary images/reflections. This laboreous process use to drive my old friend, Bela, a professional photograher nuts. We could spend an hour or more per shot. He would cringe when he visited my studio and saw me using some mirrorplex, for he knew that the was a lot of frustration heading his way.
Have always been a person, who trys to take a bad situation and turn it into something good and constructive. Over time, noticed that the closer you get to the piece, you start to see your own image in the mirrorplex. This always intrigued me. Was like the art was doing an evaluation of me. Did I really believe in the statement I was making or was I just being another BS artist? Noticed at art openings or when people visited my studio, that they spent a lot of time looking, and I thought personally interacting, with the pieces that had the mirrorplex in them. Many would do double takes upon discovering their image. Some acted like they were in front of a fitting room mirror, trying on a new outfit. Some bobbed up, down or sideways, until the could not see there image. The ones I laughed at the most were the the women that used them as a make up mirror to put on fresh lipstick, blush or eye shadow. There would be the ocassional guy who would check out his teeth to see if there were any remnants from his last meal. The ones that gave me the greatest satisfaction, were those that would stand there, look at the piece for a few seconds, then look at their image for a few seconds and repeat this routine several times. It was like they were having a conversation with the piece or questioning their values or opinions relating to the subject matter presented in the piece. Sometimes people didn't like what what the saw. Had a strange occurence at an opening at the LA County Museum, where this woman went beserk, saying she had just spent three years in therapy and my art was bringing back everything she had tried to forget. Thank God there was security there to remove her. At the same opening, there was a psycholgist from a local university who spent about 15-20 minutes viewing one of the pieces. Tried to initiate conversation with him, but he politely refused, "Just Looking". After the closing of the exhibition, he purchased the piece through the museum. I tried for a few years to make contact, but to no avail. Have always wondered what he saw, sees or thinks, when he looks at and into that piece. One of my exhibitions was entitled "Meters-of-Selfhood". The following statement appeared on the invitation/announcement to the show: " My art has been called veristic Surrealism. I have chosen to enter and explore the minds and emotions of the everyday individual on a naturalistic basis. What brings him joy? What causes him fear? What defines or decides his values? And above all, really, who is he? Any given viewer may see my work as being jovial, whimsical or even a terrifying psychological earthquake. Their interpretations may vary depending what plane the are on mentally or emotionally at any given time. Each piece may appear to be quite simple, but as any indivual, one will discover that they are highly complex. I have always liked referring to them as being "meters-of-selfhood". Just as we all have mirrors to reflect our exterior images daily, so should we have vehicles by which to check out what is going on inside that mental and emotional jungle also". That was written back in 1985. They say "if it ain't broke, don't try to fix it". Guess I am always going to be curious about who I am and what I really am all about. The unfortunate thing for others, is that I am also deeply curious about who they really are and what they are really all about. Is strange, but if we all strip down and deal with the the BASICS of life, we will find that we are all pretty much alike.
JOHN MICHAEL
(To see photos of the above art piece "Mine vs Yours", go to https://sites.google.com/site/jmdodigartphotos )