Portfolio > The Black Mirror (series) 2019-2023

Mirrors hold a kind of magic—they reflect the present, recall the past, and suggest the future. In ancient Japan, older geisha were said to favor black lacquer (urushi) mirrors because the dark surface softened the appearance of wrinkles. In this piece, Maruyama employs black lacquer for its depth: it functions both as a reflective surface and as a profound void, evoking multiple layers of consciousness.