This Mirror Is Made of Hundreds of Pompoms

Art & Sculpture Craft & Design
This Mirror Is Made of Hundreds of Pompoms
pompoms
Videography by Victoria Sendra

We’ve never seen a mirror quite like this one, designed by artist Daniel Rozin. Mirrors generally reflect a photorealistic image of the world. Rozin’s mirror, however, won’t show the buttons on your shirt or the color of your hair. It moves like a slow, furry animal, shifting a synchronized array of 928 spherical faux fur puffs to reflect the silhouette of the viewer.

Each pair of pompoms is controlled by a motor. An Xbox Kinect motion sensor detects the viewer, and a Mac mini with custom software takes the information from the motion sensor and directs the motors to render what’s being captured in real time.

Unlike your standard mirror, this one almost seems to have a life of its own. The motors operate a “push-pull” mechanism that has the feeling of a shifting, breathing beast, or a coordinated flock of fluffy birds.

Watch the video below for the full effect. How would you reinvent the mirror? Let us know in the comments below.

Daniel Rozin, “PomPom Mirror,” 2015 from bitforms gallery on Vimeo.

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Sophia is the managing editor of the Make: blog. When she’s not greasing editorial gears, she likes to run, ride, climb, and lift things, and make lo-tech goods like zines, desserts, and altered clothing. @sophiuhcamille

View more articles by Sophia Smith

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