River Reishi’s "Surface Tension" Captures Surreal Salon 18, Ushering in an Era of Ephemeral Artistry
Baton Rouge, LA – The Baton Rouge Gallery’s prestigious Surreal Salon, a cornerstone event for contemporary surrealist and visionary art, has once again illuminated the vibrant landscape of artistic expression. This year, the coveted "Best in Show" award was bestowed upon River Reishi for her evocative installation, Surface Tension, a piece meticulously selected by guest juror and renowned artist, Swoon (Caledonia Curry). The win marks a significant moment for Reishi, whose work masterfully navigates themes of liminality, fragility, and the profound dialogue between the seen and unseen. In an exclusive interview, Reishi delves into the inspiration behind her winning artwork, the transformative experience of participating in the Surreal Salon, and her compelling artistic journey.
The Genesis of Surface Tension: A Glimpse into the In-Between
River Reishi’s Surface Tension is more than just a sculpture; it is an immersive experience designed to capture a singular, potent moment. The artwork depicts a figure, half-submerged, reaching upwards as if poised to break through the dark, placid surface of water into our reality. This deliberate suspension between two realms is central to Reishi’s artistic exploration.
"From land, the surface of water looks smooth and transparent, almost empty," Reishi explains. "But of course, it hides an entire world that is not ours. I have always been fascinated by that threshold. The installation tries to hold that exact moment where the two worlds meet."
The sculpture itself possesses an ethereal quality, emitting a faint inner glow that, while subtle in bright gallery lighting, becomes a quiet surprise as viewers draw nearer. This interplay of stillness and imminent action imbues the piece with a palpable tension, a sentiment Reishi intentionally cultivated.
"Water is often a symbol of life, but it also carries danger and power," she notes, drawing a poignant connection to her Louisiana surroundings. "Louisiana and the Gulf region know that reality very well. I think some of that tension found its way into the work."
Complementing the central figure is an ephemeral field of black sand, meticulously hand-drawn into intricate patterns. This deliberate use of a fragile, transient material underscores Reishi’s fascination with impermanence. "The black sand surrounding the sculpture is loose and hand-drawn into patterns, so the installation only exists in that form for a short time," Reishi reveals. "Even small vibrations change it. I am interested in that fragility, in works that cannot quite stay fixed." This inherent instability transforms the installation into a living entity, its form evolving and subtly shifting, mirroring the very nature of the threshold it represents.
Surreal Salon 18: A Celebration of Unconventional Artistry
The Surreal Salon, now in its eighteenth iteration, has established itself as a vital platform for artists pushing the boundaries of surrealism and visionary art. Reishi’s encounter with the exhibition was deeply resonant, particularly with the involvement of Swoon as the guest juror.
"It was already an honor to be included in a show curated by Caledonia Curry (Swoon)," Reishi states. "When I arrived to install the piece and saw the other works for the first time, I remember thinking how haunting and memorable every single one was. So hearing the piece announced as Best in Show later that night felt surreal in the truest sense."
Reishi’s familiarity with the Surreal Salon stemmed from her immersion in the pop surrealist art community. However, this year marked her first opportunity to experience the event firsthand, having recently moved closer to Baton Rouge. She had heard the Salon described as a prelude to Mardi Gras, a vibrant affair characterized by elaborate costumes and an "otherworldly atmosphere."
"What I did not realize until participating this year was that some people actually design their costumes based on the artwork in the exhibition," Reishi exclaims, her voice alight with enthusiasm. "That was amazing to see. At one point, someone came up to me wearing a costume inspired by my piece, and getting to watch him model it and explain how the sculpture influenced the design completely made my night. It felt like the work had briefly stepped out of the gallery and into the room!" This profound interaction exemplifies the immersive and participatory spirit that defines the Surreal Salon.
The Enduring Influence of Swoon
The selection of Swoon as the guest juror for Surreal Salon 18 held particular significance for River Reishi. Swoon, an artist celebrated for her large-scale installations, street art interventions, and profound engagement with community and narrative, has long been an inspiration to Reishi.
"I have admired Swoon’s work for a long time, especially her installations and the way she moves between sculpture, architecture, and public intervention," Reishi shares. She recalls being captivated by Swoon’s iconic "Swimming Cities of Serenissima" project at the 2009 Venice Biennale, a fleet of sculptural rafts that navigated the historic waterways. "The act of arriving that way, without waiting for institutional permission, became part of the artwork itself. That kind of boldness has always stayed with me."
Reishi resonates deeply with Swoon’s ability to carve out artistic space with audacious creativity, particularly in an art world that can often feel exclusive. "It is difficult to break into the art world, especially in spaces where voice is carefully selected and curated. Seeing an artist carve out space for herself so creatively was incredibly inspiring."
Furthermore, Reishi finds Swoon’s recent exploration of mythology and storytelling through projects like "Sibylant Sisters" to be particularly compelling. "My own work is deeply inspired by myth and storytelling, so it has been fascinating to watch her develop that world, creating her own oracle cards and building a living mythology around the work. There is something powerful about artists inventing symbolic languages that people can enter into." The opportunity for Swoon to engage with Reishi’s installation was, therefore, a deeply meaningful moment, a confluence of shared artistic sensibilities.
A Fluid Approach to Creation: Embracing Fragility and Transformation
River Reishi’s artistic practice is characterized by a dynamic and fluid approach to medium. While sculpture and installation are her primary modes of expression, she does not feel tethered to any single material.
"I am not sure I feel comfortable in any single medium, and I think that is probably a good thing," Reishi asserts. "I tend to move toward whatever material feels necessary for the idea at hand." This adaptability, she explains, grew partly from practical constraints. Early in her career, limited studio space necessitated the creation of work that could expand temporarily and then dissipate. This led to her embrace of ephemeral materials like sand, modular sculptural elements, and other transient mediums.
"Over time, those limitations became part of the language of the work itself," Reishi observes. "I am drawn to materials that hold a sense of fragility and transformation. Installation allows me to build an environment around the sculpture where those ideas can unfold more fully, where the viewer is not just looking at an object but stepping into a moment or a story." This environmental approach invites viewers to not merely observe but to participate, to feel the resonance of the narrative embedded within the installation.
Finding Voice and Inspiration in the Unexpected
The concept of "voice" is a particularly significant one for Reishi, especially as a woman navigating the art world. "Voice is an interesting concept to me as a woman, because women often face particular obstacles when it comes to the emergence of voice," she reflects. "It takes a certain measure of audacity to say something and commit it to art. In a way, you are asking the world to listen."
This understanding fuels her admiration for artists who create without seeking explicit permission, echoing Swoon’s bold approach. "The willingness to claim space in a world that does not always easily offer it. Moments like that remind me that voice is not only about what you say as an artist, but about allowing yourself to say it at all. That idea continues to shape the way I approach my own work."
A recent experience that deeply impacted Reishi and reignited her passion for sculpture was a visit to the Museo Nacional de Antropología in Mexico City. The figurative ceramics, particularly those from Mayan cultures, left an indelible impression. "There is so much spirit in them, such a sense of presence," she marvels. "I encountered one ceramic face that affected me deeply. I have gone back to see it several times now, and each time I leave feeling more inspired to return to sculpture." This encounter highlights the power of ancient artistry to inspire contemporary creation, a testament to the enduring human impulse to sculpt and give form to emotion and narrative.
An Icelandic Sojourn: Amber, Eclipses, and Community
Looking ahead, Reishi’s artistic journey will take her to Reykjavik, Iceland, this summer for a residency at Raf Gallery. The timing of her visit is particularly auspicious, coinciding with a total solar eclipse on August 12th and the city’s Menningarnótt festival.
"For the exhibition, I will be installing sculpture and a sand installation that tells the myth of the birth of Baltic amber while also reflecting on eclipse mythology and the relationship between darkness and light," Reishi explains. Her fascination with amber, a material imbued with both natural beauty and mythological significance, will be a central theme.
The installation will incorporate sand sourced from local shorelines, further grounding the work in its environment. In a gesture that embodies her commitment to ephemeral art and community engagement, Reishi plans to invite the local community to dismantle the installation with her at the exhibition’s conclusion. "We carry the sand back to the ocean and return it with a wish, prayer, or intention." This act of communal release and renewal speaks to the cyclical nature of her art and her desire to connect with audiences on a deeper, more participatory level.
Iceland holds a special place in Reishi’s artistic imagination, having been inspired by the volcanic black sand beaches of Reynisfjara for her installations. The prospect of creating work there during a celestial event of such magnitude feels profoundly meaningful.
Regarding her preferred exhibition spaces, Reishi expresses an appreciation for diverse contexts. "My installations have appeared in galleries, museums, empty storefronts, and even city halls. But my favorite place for ephemeral work is the beach." She fondly recalls building temporary altars on the beach with friends in Washington State, offerings that would be reclaimed by the tide. "There is something very special about building something together that only exists for that one night." This preference for natural, transient environments underscores her art’s inherent connection to the forces of nature and the passage of time.
The Surreal Salon Experience: A Moment of Ephemeral Truth
The entire Surreal Salon experience, for River Reishi, was a tapestry of vibrant energy and unexpected revelations. "The whole evening had an incredible energy," she recounts. "The costumes alone were extraordinary, and everywhere you looked, there was another small moment of creativity unfolding. Music, conversation, artists reconnecting, people discovering work for the first time. It felt celebratory in the best way."
A particularly poignant moment occurred early in the evening when an accidental bump caused the platform supporting her installation to shift, causing the meticulously drawn sand patterns to vibrate and disrupt. While the individual involved was unharmed, the incident offered a profound insight into the artwork itself.
"Some people had assumed the sand had been glued down or painted in place," Reishi notes. "When it shifted, it suddenly became clear that the entire surface was loose and hand-drawn." In that moment, Reishi sat beside her piece and carefully repaired it, re-drawing the patterns as attendees watched.
"For me, that moment captured the spirit of the work," she concludes. "The installation only existed in that exact form on that particular night. It could be recreated, but it would never be exactly the same again. Everyone there was witnessing something temporary, something that belonged only to that moment in time. And in a way, that felt very fitting for the Surreal Salon itself." This serendipitous event perfectly encapsulated the essence of her art and the spirit of the Surreal Salon – a celebration of the fleeting, the transformative, and the profoundly beautiful moments that define our existence.
About River Reishi: River Reishi is a multidisciplinary artist whose sculptures and ephemeral sand installations explore myth, grief, and the mysterious threshold between worlds. Drawing on feminine water deities and ancient storytelling traditions, she works with materials such as sand, amber, and light to create environments that exist only briefly in time.
See more at riverreishi.com and on Instagram @riverreishi.
