doug aitken creates a mirror-clad 'mirage' in coachella valley's desert landscape

an outdoor exhibition of art installations and site-specific works is currently taking place across the coachella valley and its desert landscape. as part of the epic project, doug aitken has realized ‘mirage’ — a typical california ranch style house completely clad in reflective mirrored surfaces. in thinking about the architectural aspects of the artwork, aitken drew from the iconic ranch typology and the rich history of the area, sourcing stylistic cues from frank lloyd wright’s highly influential role in shaping the american west. 

a typical california ranch style house has been completely clad in mirrors
all images by lance gerber / courtesy the artist and desert X

sited at the juncture where the san jacinto mountain range opens up to the coachella valley, aitken’s ‘mirage‘ acts as a life-size kaleidoscope, reflecting the vast, arid landscape. framing and distorting its surroundings, the reflective installation changes throughout the day, creating a range of unique experiences. each variation provides viewers with a different engagement and sense of space — at night, the distant lights bounce of the building’s façade and create a universe of stars; in the afternoon, blue skies are transformed into fragments of color intersected by pieces of clouds.

‘mirage’ frames and distorts views of its desert surroundings

the installation is reconfigured as an architectural idea, where a seemingly ordinary suburban home becomes devoid of its inhabitants. ‘mirage’ functions in response to the desert landscape that surrounds it, with its doors, windows, and openings removed to create a more fluid relationship its environment.

aitken’s work has been created as a part of desert X — a site-specific art exhibition of established and emerging artists curated by artistic director neville wakefield. ‘mirage’ will remain on view through october 31, 2017, after desert X’s conclusion on april 30, 2017.

each mirrored experience provides viewers with a different engagement and sense of space

the seemingly ordinary suburban home becomes devoid of its inhabitants

aitken’s work has been created as a part of desert X — a site-specific art exhibition

the installation overlooks the juncture where the san jacinto mountain range opens up to the coachella valley

by night, the distant lights bounce of the building’s façade and create a universe of stars