TAT  Contemporary Art Gallery

Like in every other case, sculptress Veronika Tóth applied only natural material in this artwork as well. The first and most important feature of this remarkable mirror is the blurred transparency of the red poppy petals on it. When looking into this mirroring surface, the viewer faces the contradictory nature of these plants: while one film-like layer provides a vague yet visible reflection, moving towards the fringes of the plate, it becomes more and more opaque and finally it loses transparency whatsoever under the increasing number of the faded pinkish petals. It seems as though this were a „magic mirror”, which shows an entirely other aspect rather than external features of one who looks into it. As if the looming image on the other side belonged to another mystical or spiritual world.

 

According to Lajos Somlósi, flora reflects the mood and state of those surrounded by it and bears message for them. Red poppy, one of the cornflower – poppy – chamomile trio, is “able to open up doors to the invisible” and helps one turn back to nature. It shows the way how to purify oneself and find one’s latent inner powers. Somlósi refers to Jung when claiming ”it can mobilize such potential sources in us which we are not even aware of but which are our archetypal and elemental forces.” Thus, it helps to hear our inner voice, to get balanced and be open. ”In different life situations, this plant can revive the strength and virtue of feminine love.” Basically, he states in this particular article this plant can relieve one of their pride and help one find harmony with themselves, their environment and nature.

 

I do not know whether or not the artist has ever heard about this theory but I assume she is already in such a close relationship with nature that these kind of connections between human and Earth may be evident for her even if just on a subconscious level. We encounter our own reflection day by day on millions of different surfaces, all of which shows a different picture and almost none of which is natural any more. Looking at and into Tóth’s art piece, one can contemplate the idea of a „real reflection” or even a „real face”. Is it the one which we can see in the mirror or the way others can see us? Or is our „real face” not even visible? Do we even have only one or our personality consists of a myriad of different „reflections”? Gazing into this marvelous mirror, one gets a bit closer to nature since none of us have ever seen ourselves through petals of a beautifully delicate flower before. The blur face glancing back from beyond the eternal frame of flowers reminds us precisely of the ever-changing quality of nature and it makes us stop for a minute and think about our role and importance in the whole circulation.

 

Additionally, I may have discovered another reference in this sculpture: that is, the one to grief. It is a well-known tradition to cover all mirrors in a mourning house, and in England, poppy wreathes are conventionally used to commemorate fallen soldiers. In this respect, this artwork combines the two traditions into one mirror covered with remembrance poppies.

 

Anna Voelgyi