Belgian designer Alain Gilles loves to combine contrasting materials to create surprising and creative designs. The Faux Mirror Collection also adds dreamlike qualities and a surreal flavor to the mix. Designed for Deknudt Mirrors, the mirrors challenge perception of what is real and what is fake through an ingenious concept that encourages user interaction. The two designs feature a diamond-shaped mirror that boasts a “fake” wooden texture or a “fake” perforated metal surface on one side. Taking inspiration from artisanal techniques which date back to the Renaissance period, the object integrates an artistic imitation of another material – in this case wood or metal. The resulting mirror creates a distinctive reflection. The slightly transparent materials allow the real objects in a room to blend in with the textures in a dreamlike image.
Fixed to the wall, the half-circle shelf in black stained or natural oak appears full as it reflects in the mirror. It allows the user to add small decorative objects and create a surreal composition at the same time. The Faux Mirror Collection, as well as the Mirror Mirror and the New Perspective designs which were created for Italian brand Bonaldo will be showcased at Designmonat Graz 2017. Images courtesy of Alain Gilles.