In the past, I was mesmerized, transported, and fulfilled. This time was different - for many reasons. In 20, I headed to Palm Springs, California, for the first two Desert X biennials. The fantastic house of mirrors, Mirage, is based on the traditional American ranch. The unique design made by the artist Doug Aitkens comprises of mirrored panels inside and out, creating a bewildering and borderline traumatic mirage appearance of the surrounding landscape.The art organization’s actions highlight an opportunity for itself and its community Photography is by Lance Gerber, courtesy of the artist and Desert X. The Mirage is part of an art installation at the Desert X Art Festival, featuring 16 remarkable artworks spreading across 45 miles of the valley. The reflective mirrors placed on the facade give a dramatic and freakish outlook of the structure appearing and disappearing into the desert. The inside panels make everything a head spinning task, even going to the bathroom! Photography is by Lance Gerber, courtesy of the artist and Desert X. The artist credits his work to the beloved architect, Frank Lloyd Wright, who is known for coming up with the classic and now ubiquitous, American ranch home design. ‘After World War II, the ranch style’s streamlined simplicity gained popularity as commercial builders employed a simplified assembly line approach to create this efficient form, matching the rapid growth of the suburbs’ Photography is by Lance Gerber, courtesy of the artist and Desert X. ‘Mirage distills the recognisable and repetitious suburban home into the essence of its lines, reflecting and disappearing into the vast western landscape’ Photography is by Lance Gerber, courtesy of the artist and Desert X. The variable intensity of the sun-rays striking the mirror house make it disappear into the arid Californian desert at one point. Even the slight change in the viewing angles provide a mind-altering experience that can easily distort the orientation of the onlooker. ‘Like a human-scale lens, MIRAGE works to frame and distort the evolving world outside of it. There is no single time to view this work, as each variation provides something new.’ Photography is by Lance Gerber, courtesy of the artist and Desert X. ‘At night the distant lights refract to create a universe of stars on a tranquil afternoon the sky is transformed into banks of blue fragmented by slices of clouds. There is no fixed perspective or correct interpretation. Each experience of this living artwork will be unique’ĭesert X is hosted at different sites across the Californian desert by the artistic director, Neville Wakefield. This festival began on February 25, and continued till April 30, 2017.Most visitors to “Mirage,” an installation by the artist Doug Aitken on a hillside overlooking the Coachella Valley, leave wondering about the traction their pictures of the supremely photogenic project are getting on social media - at least if their posture, bending intently over their phones as they trudge back to their cars, is any indication. OK, checking my phone - I’m not superhuman - but also wondering about the boulders. “Mirage” is one of 16 artworks scattered around the Coachella Valley as part of the inaugural Desert X, a contemporary-art festival organized by curator Neville Wakefield.
It takes the form of a single-story ranch house in the foothills of the San Jacinto Mountains that is wrapped inside and out in mirrored surfaces. From certain angles it disappears almost completely into the landscape it endlessly reflects.
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