A group exhibition of 31 artists titled “I’ll be your mirror…so you can break into endless shards” is currently on display at the Heist gallery in New York. Curated by Metro Color Collision, the exhibition showcases works relating to perception, both of the self and of others, in a colorful mixture of photography, collages, drawings, paintings and installations. The exhibition’s title references the classic Velvet Underground song, “I’ll Be Your Mirror,” along with Nan Goldin’s book of photography by the same name. The show opened July 17th and runs until August 10th.

“The theme of the show is about people’s perception of themselves in the eyes of others and how it’s possible to unconditionally love somebody despite seeing them clearly,” says Julia Fishkin who, together with Matt Lucas, forms the curatorial collective Metro Color Collision. The show was brought to life through an open call to artists whom they felt would fit the theme.

A large amount of photography presides in the show, likely in correlation to the title’s Nan Goldin reference. The individual pieces vary in subject from family life, depression, addiction, body image, and sexuality, but each piece fits nicely into the overall theme of perception.

A photograph by Conrad Kofron depicts a man in a monster truck T-shirt drinking a slushy in a public bathroom. He focuses on slurping, seemingly unaware of a framed image nearby of two children also enjoying a slushy. The grinning children serve as a mirror for the man’s state of mind; he has the mental capacity of a child. The photograph, though brightly colored, has a decidedly melancholy air about it; like many pieces in the show, it deals with a complicated mix of emotions.

Another piece, a graphite drawing titled Fallen by Stephanie Dodes, depicts mirror-reverse images of a nude girl stretched over a bed of leaves. The girl’s casual expression and sprawled, erotic pose make it ambiguous as to whether she is aware she is being observed or is simply having a moment of quiet introspection. The title itself, a similar dichotomy, has sexual overtones while simultaneously referring to the fallen leaves below the girl’s body.

I was particularly impressed by Marta Edmisten’s piece, Blind Dating, which was the subject of much conversation during the show’s opening. “My piece is probably the one that is pissing the most people off,” Edmisten said with a laugh, when asked about her work.

Edmisten explained that her work mainly focuses on the Internet, which she views as “the last vestige of childhood because you can be whoever you want to be.” To make Blind Date, she set up a profile on an adult dating website under the name “imfinallydoingit,” describing herself as married, educated, and slim, seeking “some good, safe, no-strings-attached sex.” After a brief correspondence with several potential dates, she arranged to meet 16 of them (only nine showed up). The resulting artwork consists of Edmisten’s original profile, three profiles of her potential hookups, and gritty, black-and-white photography of three men.

“I was trying to describe myself as the perfect f***,” said Edmisten. “The piece is very much about how we see other people, as opposed to how we see ourselves.” Her piece reminded me of the popularity of social networking websites, where people are given the opportunity to present themselves to the world in any way they choose, thus affecting how they are perceived in real life as well as online. It is a strange product of the 21st century that a person can so casually influence the way they are seen by the world, even from their own living room.

At first glance, I’ll admit, I thought the idea of an exhibition themed after a popular song (even if it happens to be a song I like) seemed a bit hokey. However, by alluding to two counter-culture symbols, the title does effectively capture the youthful energy present in the exhibition. The works on display seem anything but tired or stagnant; rather, they suggest a vibrant grasp on life, whether it is painful or exhilarating, that only comes with open eyes. Likewise, although many of the works have a definite professional sheen, others have a sort of playful “art school” vibe, suggesting up-and-coming artists still refining their craft and enjoying every minute of it. The gallery itself, a relatively new space, also has a playful edge; owner Talia Eisenberg named it for the feeling a person gets when they see a beautiful, unaffordable piece of art – they want to steal it.

With such a variety of art to choose from, it is likely that many visitors to “I”ll be your mirror… so you can break into endless shards” will want to heist something for themselves.

Further information on the exhibition and a list of the participating artists can be seen at the gallery website.

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