Mirrored Works and Domestic Exhibition, Manchester, 2017
Mirrors (Open House)
In July 2017, Mark repainted the living room of his own home in Manchester and reworked it into a temporary gallery for an evening. The show presented a series of mirrored works made using a self-devised laser and chemical process, with a DJ set at the opening blurring the line between exhibition and gathering.
The Show
These works were shown as part of an open house exhibition held in Mark’s own home. In preparation, he repainted the living room white and temporarily reworked the space to function as a gallery environment.
Situated within a domestic setting rather than a formal gallery, the show blurred the line between private and public space, using the home as a site for encounter, hospitality and shared experience.
The Technique
Each piece began with a laser-etched pattern cut into the protective backing of a mirror, exposing selected areas of the reflective surface beneath. A chemical solution of hydrogen peroxide, salt and white vinegar was then applied to remove the mirrored layer, creating a controlled erosion, pattern and transparency within the glass.
By combining digital precision with chemical reaction, the technique allowed for repetition alongside unpredictability, producing surfaces that shift between reflection, absence and image.
The Mirrors
The series ran across several distinct patterns, from tight concentric rings to angular, faceted lines, each framed and mounted so it could be read both as an object on the wall and as a working mirror.
Because the pieces still reflect, they engage the viewer and the surrounding room directly, folding environment, body and light into the work itself rather than holding them at a distance.
The Opening
An opening event was held in the evening, with Mark DJing as part of the gathering. Guests moved between rooms that were, a few weeks earlier, simply where he lived, now standing in for a gallery for one night.
The evening carried the same idea as the mirrors themselves: reflection, gathering and the ordinary made to hold something more than usual, if only for a few hours.
Commission a Similar Project
I take on a small number of mirrored and etched glass commissions each year, working directly with homes, shops and hospitality spaces who want a piece made using this technique for a specific interior, primarily across Manchester, the Peak District and the wider North West.
If you are planning a room, a shop fit-out, or a space that could hold a mirrored piece made to measure, I would like to hear about it early, while the brief is still open.
Get in touch about a commission →
Questions
What was Mirrors (Open House)?
An exhibition held in Mark’s own home in Manchester in July 2017, after the living room was repainted and reworked into a temporary gallery for one evening.
What technique was used to make the mirrors?
Each mirror was laser-etched on its protective backing, then treated with a chemical solution of hydrogen peroxide, salt and white vinegar to remove the mirrored layer in a controlled pattern.
Was this part of an official Manchester Open House festival?
No. Open House is Mark’s own name for showing work in his home rather than a formal gallery, not a tie-in to any wider festival.
Was there a DJ at the opening?
Yes. Mark DJed the opening event himself, as part of the evening’s gathering.
Can these mirrored pieces still be used as mirrors?
Yes. The pieces still reflect, so they read as both an artwork and a working mirror depending on where you stand.
Can Moderate Studio make a mirrored or etched glass piece for a space?
Yes. Moderate Studio takes on a small number of mirrored and etched glass commissions each year, working with homes, shops and hospitality spaces on pieces made for a specific interior.
From the Journal
Drawing with Light Instead of on It
Dated entries following the mirror work, from the first etched pieces in 2015 through the process and the Open House show to new designs in 2018.