'Dada' and The Dinner Guest
When you make something eccentric, you will, of course, attract a certain type of customer: a free thinker; a non conformist.
When I look at the Dada mirror I see
one thing: My little man from Belgium standing in the doorway of my
shop. What his name was I cannot remember. But I can see him now as
though it were yesterday. Standing patiently in his neat little
suit, perhaps, not much taller than myself, waiting for my
attention.
'I'm interested in the Dada mirror in the window' he said. 'Would it be possible to make some modifications? And, would it be possible to send it to Belgium?'.
Of course, to both of these requests, I said 'yes', as I had a terrible habit of saying 'yes' to every customer's request; And, always before I had considered the difficulties.
Copyright © 2018. Flavia Brilli. All rights reserved
'I'm interested in the Dada mirror in the window' he said. 'Would it be possible to make some modifications? And, would it be possible to send it to Belgium?'.
Of course, to both of these requests, I said 'yes', as I had a terrible habit of saying 'yes' to every customer's request; And, always before I had considered the difficulties.
'Yes, of course. No problem. What sort
of modifications?' I asked.
Since my mirror service was bespoke, I was
used to offering my designs in different colours, or different sizes
to suit the customer's desires. However, my little Belgium man had
something very particular in mind. Something even I had not
conceived of that my Dada mirror should be his permanent dinner
guest.
'Would it be possible, he asked, ever so
politely, to attach a foot to the back of the mirror, rather like a
plate stand, so that my Dada mirror can stand on the floor at the head of
my dinner table?'. 'I have a long dinner table you see, and I shall sit at one end,
and he will sit at the other end opposite me when I dine'.
'Of course, I said, in my usual,
unaffected fashion. 'No problem, whatsoever'. 'Definitely'. I can do
that'
My assistant and I were thrilled to
have such a visionary in the shop. And thrilled to make an adaption
that put my mirror to an unusual use: a mirror as a 'dinner guest'.
This began a pattern of many unusual
requests. Requests which took me on a journey with my customers which
took my mirror-making into the area of wishful fantasies. And I
was very happy for customers to come to me and feel comfortable asking for whatever unusual ideas were in their minds. Since, really
I don't consider anything unusual about the workings of our
imaginations.
To imagine is to be free.
'Dada' Mirror
by Flavia Brilli
Mirror designs by Flavia Brilli
Copyright © 2018. Flavia Brilli. All rights reserved.
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