Jeffrey Stahl, Coke Mirror, 2020

This piece was inspired by the aura of habit forming objects and their involvement in the ritual of addiction. I have been battling drug addiction for the past year and have found that my habits and self-destructive behavior have been linked to the glamour and ritual of using a mirror for insufflation. I wanted to explore my relationship with these objects to find a self-reflection both figuratively and literally. 

A mirror is something significant and important to me especially in detrimental ways concerning a drug addiction I’m currently battling. By using mirrors as surface for insufflation and drug abuse, it almost has become a ritual habit in the cycle of my addiction. Part of the popularity and significance of the mirror to a user is purely utilitarian; smooth hard surfaces that make it easy to account for every last spec of powder are preferable. However, part of the subconscious allure to using a mirror in my opinion is to be able to see yourself briefly and have sobering moment while you stare back at your own reflection. While I’m able to see whichever substance that I’m about to consume intranasally, I also am able to see myself and have a moment of reflection. Whether it be feelings of guilt or feelings narcissism , the mirror has prompted moments of realization about my struggle through addiction and my self-deprecating behavior. 

With Coke Mirror, I wanted to explore ideas about self reflection through the piece being made out of reflective material so one can see themselves and self-reflection figuratively as the mirror holds traumatic value and dark personal histories prompting me to reflect on my own life and the mysticism of objects as triggers to addiction.