A new art installation will feature in Rosalind Park in time for the Bendigo Easter Festival.
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House of Mirrors was created by Melbourne artists Christian Wagstaff and Keith Courtney after a commission by Hobart’s Museum of Old and New Art.
The installation is a labyrinth of walk through mirrors and takes a dark twist on the 19th century sideshow attraction.
A series of full-length mirrors form seemingly endless glass corridors that play on people’s perception.
Voids, kaleidoscopic chambers, doorways and darkened breaks are also featured and are sure to thrill patrons.
Forty tonnes of steel and 15 tonnes of mirrored glass are used in the installation to help create varying angles and specific effects.
Bendigo Art Gallery director Karen Quinlan said she was thrilled to announce the new installation.
“House of Mirrors brings elements of art, science, culture and history together to offer the perfect example of the transformative nature of contemporary art,” she said.
“I think there was an expectation with the community that we would continue to put iconic pieces on the corner but this is a nice opportunity to move into the gardens. We wanted to have a departure from the traditional three-dimensional sculpture.
“We won't always work in this way but it’s a beautiful piece of landscape that the House of Mirrors will work perfectly with.
“There is also the experience of going inside (an art piece) rather than standing in front of it.”
The House of Mirrors is the second outdoor art installation the Bendigo Art Gallery has featured.
Last year, the gallery had great success with Seward Johnson’s Marilyn Monroe sculpture being featured in Rosalind Park.
“It's about engaging our community in another way,” Ms Quinlan said.
“With the Easter festival with (coinciding) it is an opportunity to bring something different (to Bendigo). I’d like to think it will bring community back in to the park.
“We're celebrating 130 years of the gallery this year and this is an opportunity to move outside the walls of the gallery and embrace new directions.”
In parts of the maze, visitors will be able to see other people but not themselves. At other times the illusion works in reverse.
Artist Keith Courtney said it will take four days to install the House of Mirrors.
“It will come from Adelaide in eight containers immediately after the Adelaide Fringe Festival and take a rapid four days to pop it together,” he said.
“We have a lovely local crew to assist us and a fantastic location.”
House of Mirrors featured at Hobart’s 2016 Dark Mofo event.
It has also been to Brisbane and Sydney and will be launched at the Adelaide Festival before heading to Bendigo.
More than 80,000 people have been through the House of Mirrors and both artists are encouraging people to take a lot of selfies.
“I think we have created a selfie machine, so we want to see Instagram go crazy in Bendigo,” Mr Courtney said.
Fellow artist Christian Wagstaff said House of Mirrors encourages a number of different reactions from visitors.
“A mirror maze is something we wanted to to do for a while,” he said.
“What I find extraordinary is it gets a broad cross sections of reactions. Some people are thrilled, some are a bit scared. There is a great mix of joy and fear.”
House of Mirrors, presented by Bendigo Art Gallery in partnership with La Trobe Arts Institute will feature in Rosalind Park from April 7-30.
It is open daily from 2pm to 9pm. Last entry at 8.30pm.
Easter Saturday and Sunday opening hours are 10am to 10pm. Last entry at 9.30pm.