Invitations, Awakenings: Experiments with White Neon and Two-Way Mirrors by Jeppe Hein

Internationally acclaimed Danish artist Jeppe Hein is known for his minimalistic installations and sculptures characterised by a generous use of white, elements like fire and ice, plastic balloons, balls of steel, letters in neon and lots of mirrors – static, rotating, rectangular, circular.

The artworks – in their simplicity – are meant to elicit a deep psychological response in the viewer. The artist invites observers into an arena where they can enjoy a moment of introspection, be safely secluded from the harsh noises and the endless stream of flickering images outside. The installations and sculptures often deal with labyrinths, optical illusions, physical movement and reflections.

One of Jeppe’s most arresting creations is an ongoing series that started in 2012 – made up of  powder-coated aluminium, neon tubes, two-way mirrors, powder-coated steel and transformers. The viewer stands before a mirror with a message in neon letters stuck to it on the other side. The words are always direct, brief, somewhat mysterious, even hypnotic: for example, “YOU ARE ON MY MIND”, “YOU ARE RIGHT HERE RIGHT NOW”.  These exhibits are supposed to “awaken viewers to the present moment” and make them “question their position in space and time.” Seven works are displayed below with the artist’s descriptions.

Jeppe Hein was born in 1974 in Copenhagen. He attended the Royal Danish Academy of Arts, Copenhagen in 1997 and the Städel Hochschule für Bildende Künste, Frankfurt in 1999. He lives and works in Copenhagen and Berlin.

Learn more on www.jeppehein.net. Jeppe is represented by KÖNIG GALERIE (Berlin), 303 Gallery (New York) and Galleri Nicolai Wallner (Copenhagen). He is currently preparing for a number of solo and group exhibitions – in Denmark, Germany, Norway, Switzerland, the UK and Turkey.

 

INHALE HOLD EXHALE

White neon letters glow behind a two-way mirror, layered with reflections of the visitors and the surrounding space. In a specified sequence the words “INHALE”, “HOLD”, “EXHALE” light up momentarily inviting the viewer to breath accordingly. Combined with the two-way mirror in front of it, the appellative message seems to awaken viewers to the present moment and make the usually unconscious process of breathing conscious for a while.

Courtesy Jeppe Hein, KÖNIG GALERIE, Berlin, 303 Gallery, New York, and Galleri Nicolai Wallner, Copenhagen

 

SOMETHING SPECIAL ABOUT YOU

SOMETHING SPECIAL ABOUT YOU glows in white neon letters behind a two-way mirror, layered with reflections of the visitors and the surrounding space. Combined with the two-way mirror in front of it, the appellative message seems to awaken viewers to the present moment and question their position in space and time.

Courtesy Jeppe Hein, KÖNIG GALERIE, Berlin, 303 Gallery, New York, and Galleri Nicolai Wallner, Copenhagen

 

YOU ARE AMAZING JUST THE WAY YOU ARE

YOU ARE AMAZING JUST THE WAY YOU ARE glows in white neon letters behind a two-way mirror, layered with reflections of the visitors and the surrounding space. Combined with the two-way mirror in front of it, the appellative message seems to awaken viewers to the present moment and question their position in space and time.

Courtesy Jeppe Hein, KÖNIG GALERIE, Berlin, 303 Gallery, New York, and Galleri Nicolai Wallner, Copenhagen

 

ARE YOU REALLY HERE

ARE YOU REALLY HERE glows in white neon letters behind a two-way mirror, layered with reflections of the visitors and the surrounding space. Combined with the two-way mirror in front of it, the appellative message seems to awaken viewers to the present moment and question their position in space and time.

Courtesy Jeppe Hein, KÖNIG GALERIE, Berlin, 303 Gallery, New York, and Galleri Nicolai Wallner, Copenhagen

 

stillhet

Stillhet – the Norwegian word for silence – glows in white neon letters behind a two-way mirror, layered with reflections of the visitors and the surrounding space. Combined with the two-way mirror in front of it, the word seems to awaken viewers to the present moment and question their position in space and time.

Courtesy Jeppe Hein, KÖNIG GALERIE, Berlin, 303 Gallery, New York, and Galleri Nicolai Wallner, Copenhagen

 

YOU ARE ON MY MIND

YOU ARE ON MY MIND glows in white neon letters behind a two-way mirror, layered with reflections of the visitors and the surrounding space. Combined with the two-way mirror in front of it, the appellative message seems to awaken viewers to the present moment and question their position in space and time.

Courtesy Jeppe Hein, KÖNIG GALERIE, Berlin, 303 Gallery, New York, and Galleri Nicolai Wallner, Copenhagen

 

YOU ARE RIGHT HERE RIGHT NOW

YOU ARE RIGHT HERE RIGHT NOW glows in white neon letters behind a two-way mirror, layered with reflections of the visitors and the surrounding space. Combined with the two-way mirror in front of it, the appellative message seems to awaken viewers to the present moment and question their position in space and time.

Courtesy Jeppe Hein, KÖNIG GALERIE, Berlin, 303 Gallery, New York, and Galleri Nicolai Wallner, Copenhagen

Published by Tulika Bahadur

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