House of Mirrors

On Saturday I went with a group of teachers to the House of Mirrors in Kuwait. This unusual art museum is a giant installation created by an Italian woman who slowly, over a series of years, transformed her home by constructing mirror mosaics to cover every surface. Lidia al-Qattan came to Kuwait for the dry weather. Married to a Kuwaiti artist, she began to create her own art in the form of mosaics. Inspired to cover up the mess that her daughter had left after she got into enamel paint, it soon spread from the one room throughout her home.  She said that it took 91 tonnes of mirror to create what we there saw today. 

Lidia, is an eccentric artist, but is very welcoming as she gives you snacks when you first arrive, and then takes you an a tour of them place. Her home revolves around the idea of the earth and the universe. All of the rooms have themes, from the reception room which is inspired by the sea, the kitchen which looks at the bounty of the earth, or her daughter's old bedroom which looks at astrology. She share with us her fascination of the origin of the universe, and space exploration. 

She took us upstairs where things got a little more "interactive" and delved more experiential art. Not my personal favourite type of art but never the less something as art educator I should always keep an open mind to. First came the game. Hanging from the walls and ceiling were cheap carpet that she had painted. She handed all of us on the tour small tiles which she had painted and on the back attached velcro to. We were to throw the tiles at the carpet and attempt to get the images facing right side up in order to score a point for out team. My team won 2 out of the 3 series. Next we were taken into the art therapy room, where a dark setting, light installations and music were meant to calm you and make you self aware. 

The next room we were taken into was our experience in entering into the universe. She had a dark room where glow in the dark stars surrounded us, and timed to music various lights and images played. You could tell that there was a lot of thought and dedication put into it. And although it wasn't my favourite art installation, after got over the feeling that this is really weird, I did enjoy it. To the point where when she open the door and told us it was time to move on, we all a little slow to leave. Although some of the participants may have been more hesitant to find out what odd art experience we were going to have next. 

She took us down an elevator to her gallery of painting were she made us spin a wheel of chance to see if we could win a prize of one of her jewellery designs. However some people did walk away with some large broaches and earrings. She took us back the reception room where she gave us more drinks and food, and talked about her art and life in Kuwait some more. She was a fascinating woman, but once again confirmed to me that I am no where weird enough to be an artist.