A mirrored maze that uses simple geometry to confuse and intrigue has set up in New Farm as part of Brisbane Powerhouse's end-of-year carnival Wonderland.
The House of Mirrors walk-through labyrinth, which launched at Hobart's Dark MoFo festival earlier this year, now sits in front of the Brisbane Powerhouse, its rusted metal structure blending in perfectly with the Powerhouse's exposed brick facade.
The 86 full-length mirror structure with kaleidoscopic chambers, voids and darkened breaks was built in just three months by Australian installation artists Christian Wagstaff and Keith Courtney for the Tasmanian festival and now Brisbane has the chance to get lost among its many corridors.
The outdoor attraction uses precise geometry and spatial design in a hark back to the trickery of old amusement parks, Mr Wagstaff said.
"Anyone under 40 just looks at it and goes how is that possible, there is no technology, it is just glass," he said.
"Everyone over 40 has sort of forgotten it was possible once upon a time in the old amusement parks when things were very basic.
"It has that magic about it, as soon as anyone looks into it, they are just drawn to it, it is quite a magnetic space."
When asked how the pair came up with the concept, they said it "landed in our minds".
"As soon as Keith and I talked about building a mirror maze, with any of the ideas we work on you instantly know in your mind and heart and gut whether it is right or wrong," Mr Wagstaff said.
Mr Courtney said the lack of technology was what made the space appealing to him.
"I think we love because we live in this technology saturated world, I think people find it appealing that there is no technology, it really is so simple, it is happening without any technology," he said.
"It is like a big meccano set."
Mr Courtney said they still manage to get disorientated in the maze, especially after a few tweaks since Dark MoFo.
"I get busy and then I lose my way then I get frustrated that I am losing my way in my own House of Mirrors," he said.
"We are pretty good at going through but the fascinating thing is as soon as you lose your sense of direction your mind starts to spiral and it gets worse and it takes a moment to get your bearings," Mr Wagstaff said.
The installation will be heading to Sydney Festival in January then Melbourne before heading overseas.
House of Mirrors opens to the public on Friday November 18 at 8pm and will run until December 11. Jump online for ticket prices and opening times.
