david derksen and lex pott: oxidized transience mirrors

dutch designers david derksen and lex pott have created ‘transience’, a series of geometric mirrors
that take the concept of oxidization and use it to create texture and color on the reflective surfaces. 

 

usually oxidization happens randomly and over long periods of time as the silver layer reacts
with oxygen and water. although this is usually seen as a sign of degradation,
the duo have explored and gained control of this process to create layers of color ranging
from golds and browns to purples and blues. sulfur is added to the top layer of the mirrors and left for varying
amounts of time. the longer the chemical reaction is left to occur, the deeper the color.
the shapes reinforce the geometric forms of the mirror while the changes in tone create the illusion of laying.