The inside of former St. John’s Church in North Lincolnshire, UK now occupied by the 20-21 Visual Arts Centre, a historic church-turned-exhibition space is currently housing artist Liz West’s installation titled “Our Colour Reflection”.

The site-specific installation aims at creating a conversation between the viewer and the setting using more than 700 mirrored disks made of coloured acrylic. There are 15 colours in all and the different sized mirrors are set at different heights so that they can reflect the gallery lighting into the roof space, projecting a spectrum of hues onto the interior beams and archways of the 125-year-old magnificent Gothic building.

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West has been planning the vibrant installation for two years, researching the space, finding the perfect methods for coloring and shaping her mirrors, and convincing bureaucrats of the installation’s merits. However, the installation itself was completely improvised. Reflective multi-coloured pool installation at St. John Church in North Lincolnshire - 04

“I had no plan of where each mirror was going to be laid, just the idea of the work as a whole in my minds-eye,” she says. “The week long install was physically very demanding and this became the biggest and most unexpected challenge for me and my assistant.” Reflective multi-coloured pool installation at St. John Church in North Lincolnshire - 05

“The work changes constantly, depending on what time of day it is,” West explains. “As darkness comes, the gallery spotlights reflect off the colored mirrors and send vivid dots of color up into the interior of the former church building, illuminating the neo-Gothic architecture.”

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Visitors can view their own reflections in the mirrored surfaces as they walk through the space. The installation uses the intangible elements of light and color to transform people’s perception and experience of the space. “The installation aims to bring about a deeper sensory awareness in the viewer, tapping into their innate relationship with chroma, and exploring how it can move viewers emotionally, psychologically and spiritually.”

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“Our Colour Reflection” invites viewers to take a dive in to the multi-coloured reflective pool at the 20-21 Visual Arts Centre until  June 25, 2016.

All Images by Hannah Devereux

+ Liz West

20-21 Visual Arts Centre