August 2016: Focus on Rosalyn Driscoll

The Greek myth of Narcissus has been a rich source for a recent series of sculptures by Roz Driscoll. The basic story is that Narcissus, a handsome youth, caught sight of his reflection in a pool of water and became so enthralled by his image that he died.

In the first of the series, made in 2014, a spidery, abstract rawhide Narcissus is reflected by equally spidery black photographic foil, an actual cutout of the shadow cast by the rawhide. 

The next three sculptures in the series deepen the tale of Narcissus by placing elements below the reflective surfaces of steel and copper. What Narcissus sees in the mirror is not the whole story. The dark outcome of his obsession lurks below the surface, under the water. For the viewer, moving around the sculptures reveals different reflections and relationships. 

In the fourth piece, the hanging rawhide itself swivels, throwing continuously distorted reflections onto the mirrored steel disc. Under the surface lies a pile of bones.