Jeff Koons: Mirrors and Reflections
‘He is known for his taboo creativity and playfulness that explores the timeless continuity of the human experience, his obsession with sex and desire as well as the contemporary evolving ideas of celebrity, media, commerce, and fame. There is a certain obsessiveness in Koons work with reflections and mirror imagery. This aspect of his practice, Koons believes, make his art more accessible as an reflective exterior surface affirms the viewer only through their own reflection. “In a reflective surface, your existence is being affirmed. When you move, your abstracted reflection changes. The experience is dependent upon you; it lets you know that art is happening inside of you.”
The Balloon Dog is seen as one of Koons’ most recognisable works. The sculpture suggests, although using a single balloon, the feeling of air connecting through the sculpture as a way give life to an internet object. “Balloon Dog is a very optimistic piece, its a balloon that a clown would have maybe twist for you at a birthday party. But at the same time there’s the profoundness of an archaic sculpture. The piece has an interior life while the reflective exterior surface affirms the viewer through their reflection.” Despite being hard and opaque, the sculpture remains light with a sense of.’
His work is playful and contemporary, by his use of material choices and target audience. Sophisticated yet child like.
The Mirror - Raquel Soares Freitas 