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The Narcissus Desk

The Narcissus Desk by Sebastian Errazuriz is a continuation of his functional sculptures, which invite the viewer to look again at everyday objects, spaces and situations.

The Narcissus desk was originally inspired by Caravaggio’s painting of Narcissus that Sebastian Errazuriz remembers seeing as a child with his father, an art teacher, while on a trip to Italy.

The New York based artist and designer explains: “I was struck by the idea that someone could see their reflection and yet not be aware they were looking at themselves. I believe today we are becoming like Narcissus; so obsessed with our own perfectly edited online self that we forget to be aware of the real ‘me’ outside the screen.”

The desk wishes to offer the user a moment of reflection, a moment of thought at the one space where we make most of our important decisions in life. In order to fabricate the desk, Errazuriz found a broken down French Desk from circa 1880, which he then completely restored. He cut into the original desk with a semi circumference to allow the user to now fit inside the desk. The original top was replaced with a mirror.

“I love the way the user now enters right into the cut we created in the desk. His body is reflected like a queen of hearts on a playing card. Surrounded by your self; the viewer is suddenly, very aware of himself.” Explains the artist.

The photographs we took of the girl sitting at The Narcissus Desk reminds me of Noire et blanche by Man Ray. He has always been a big influence; I’m sure the image of the girl next to the mask was wedged in my unconscious somewhere.”

According to Greek mythology Narcissus was renowned for his beauty and disdained those who loved him. Nemesis noticed this behavior and attracted Narcissus to a pool. Narcissus saw his own reflection in the water and fell in love with it. Unable to leave he died there.