| < previous | Index | next > |
David Simcik
#1- "Mirror Multiplicity"
Oil on Canvas
30" x 28"
This work titled Mirror Multiplicity by David Simcikwas produced
in response to the artist's examination of
over 500 self-portraits by artists over the past 500 years of painting.
He noted that only a hand full of these 500 self-portraits
actually depict the artist's working on a canvas.
Some only show the back or edge of the canvas and easel.
Of those few that do show the face of the canvas,
something other than the artist's own self-portrait is being painted.
None depict the artist working on his own self-portrait.
As a result of this surprising research David Simcik produced Mirror Multiplicity.
This is a self-portrait of the artist and possibly the very first self portrait
showing the face of the canvas being worked on of the same self-portrait.
Thus, it is a self-portrait of the artist painting a self-portrait, of the artist painting a self-portrait,
of the artist painting a self-portrait...etc. and etc.
Down through the centuries of art an artist would pose
before a mirror to produce a self-portrait.
However, a right-handed painter would appear to be left-handed
in the painting due to the mirror reversing the image.
To correct this distortion, artists would employ two mirrors for the correct orientation.
It should be noted that in Mirror Multiplicity no mirrors were used, abused, or harmed in any way.
The artist leaves it up to the viewer to guess just how it was produced.
