Exhibition Text for Thom Browne Selects

Exhibition Text

Mirrors have been an important element in my work for the past year. Officeman, 2015, which I created for New York Fashion Week Men’s in July, incorporated a room—a cube—of mirrors that produced an infinity effect. Given the opportunity to select from Cooper Hewitt’s collection my thoughts again turned to reflective surfaces and contouring shapes—some more than 300 years old. I was drawn to their unparalleled craftsmanship in the same way that I appreciate the quality of superbly tailored clothing---fine detail, exceptional material, and unique character. These objects are sometimes expressive of a particular time-period, but all are uniformly timeless in their function. Mirrors are frames for self-examination. Frames establish borders and hone focus. In this installation I invite visitors to explore their reflections, to see the confident side of themselves, and to ultimately appreciate their individuality.