Milan 09: Italian architect Romolo Stanco exhibited a mirror etched with electric circut patterns in Milan this April.

Called MotherBoard, the project was on show at Edizoni Galleria Colombari as part of an exhibition called Ecotranspop.

The pattern is laser-etched inside the glass.

The mirrors have an optional backlight and have been made in rectangular, round and square shapes.

See all our stories from Milan 09 in our special category.

Here’s some more info from Romolo Stanco:

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MotherBoard is an object with a strong conceptual value, a mirror which – thanks to a sophisticated laser technique – includes an out of scale trace borrowed from electronic circuits.

MotherBoard generates a graphic interpretation of reflected reality, and affirms its “pop” attitude by cancelling the functional meaning of a technical object. It exclusively turns the object – a mirror – into its own representation. Much the same way, Jasper Johns turns the US flag into its own image, thus making it a piece of art.

MotherBoard, however, isn’t meant for contemplation. It’s an object that captures and alters the reflected image, giving back an alternative reality, violated by elements that only belong to the mirror’s material – not to the “real” world that is represented by the mirror itself.

The object thus actively starts a transfiguration of the image, while the human observer becomes aware that s(he) belongs to an era, a specific culture where the sense and meaning of commonly employed tools is lost.

Thus, the traces of printed circuits are “tattooed” on the most harmless object, traditionally intended to show a two dimensional copy of reality.

The traces are etched inside the mirror’s crystal (not on the surface) thanks to a laser technology usually employed in neurosurgery.

MOTHERBOARD: FUORISALONE 2009 Specially made for the ECOTRANSPOP exhibit

Design: Romolo Stanco

Crystal mirror with laser engravings made inside the glass slab (not on the mirror’s surface); therefore, they’re untouchable. No frame, extra bright glass, (optionally) backlit.
Size: rectangular cm 45×90; round diam. cm 45; square cm 45×45
Limited Edition 1/6 + 1AP for EDIZIONI GALLERIA COLOMBARI
Galleria Colombari, 10 Maroncelli St., Milan