River Reishi’s "Surface Tension" Captivates Surreal Salon, Explores Ethereal Boundaries

Baton Rouge, LA – The Baton Rouge Gallery’s annual Surreal Salon, a celebrated showcase of the uncanny and the extraordinary, has crowned River Reishi its Surreal Salon 18 winner. Selected by esteemed guest juror, the renowned artist Swoon (Caledonia Curry), Reishi’s evocative sculpture, "Surface Tension," has captivated audiences and critics alike, earning her the coveted Best in Show distinction. This interview delves into the genesis of Reishi’s winning piece, her artistic journey, and the profound connections she draws between her work and the vibrant, often surreal, spirit of the Surreal Salon.

The Genesis of "Surface Tension": A Threshold Between Worlds

River Reishi’s winning artwork, "Surface Tension," is a deeply resonant exploration of liminal spaces and the hidden depths of the unknown. The sculpture depicts a figure emerging from dark, placid water, her hands outstretched, poised at the precipice of breaking through the surface and entering our tangible reality. She exists in that precarious, almost dreamlike moment between two distinct realms, suspended in a fluid, ephemeral field of black sand and shimmering amber.

"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 subtle, internal luminescence of the sculpture adds another layer of intrigue. Though somewhat subdued by the bright gallery lighting, this faint glow becomes more apparent as viewers draw closer, offering a quiet, unexpected surprise. The piece initially appears still, yet it emanates a palpable sense of impending transition, a quiet anticipation of what is about to unfold.

Water, a potent symbol of life, also carries inherent connotations of danger and untamed power. Reishi draws a poignant connection to the Gulf region and Louisiana, a place intimately familiar with the dual nature of water. "I think some of that tension found its way into the work," she muses.

Further enhancing the ephemeral nature of "Surface Tension" is the surrounding black sand. This loose medium is meticulously hand-drawn into intricate patterns, meaning the installation exists in its precise form for only a fleeting period. Even the slightest vibration can alter its composition, a deliberate aspect of Reishi’s artistic philosophy. "I am interested in that fragility, in works that cannot quite stay fixed," she states.

The honor of being included in a show curated by Swoon was already a significant achievement for Reishi. However, the moment of revelation was truly surreal. "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," she recalls. "So hearing the piece announced as Best in Show later that night felt surreal in the truest sense."

A Long-Standing Fascination with the Surreal Salon

Reishi’s engagement with the Surreal Salon is not a new development. She had been aware of the event for years through the vibrant pop surrealist art community. This year marked her first opportunity to experience it firsthand, as she had recently moved close enough to attend in person.

"I kept hearing that it felt a little like an unofficial kickoff to Mardi Gras season, that people came in elaborate costumes and that the whole evening had this celebratory, slightly otherworldly atmosphere," Reishi shares.

What truly surprised and delighted her was the extent to which the exhibition inspired attendees’ creative expressions. "What I did not realize until participating this year was that some people actually design their costumes based on the artwork in the exhibition. That was amazing to see." The pinnacle of this immersive experience for Reishi was when an attendee approached her wearing a costume meticulously inspired by her winning piece. "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!"

The Profound Influence of Swoon

The selection of Swoon as guest juror for Surreal Salon 18 held particular significance for River Reishi. Swoon’s artistic trajectory and her bold approach to art-making have long resonated with 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 professes.

She points to Swoon’s groundbreaking "Swimming Cities of Serenissima" project at the 2009 Venice Biennale as a pivotal moment. "A fleet of sculptural rafts floating into one of the most formalized spaces in the art world was such an unforgettable gesture," Reishi remembers.

The inherent power of Swoon’s approach lies in its defiance of conventional art world gatekeeping. "The act of arriving that way, without waiting for institutional permission, became part of the artwork itself," Reishi emphasizes. "That kind of boldness has always stayed with me. 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."

Reishi also finds inspiration in Swoon’s more recent work, particularly the "Sibylant Sisters" project. "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," Reishi states. "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 Fluid Approach to Medium and Meaning

River Reishi’s artistic practice is characterized by a fluid engagement with various mediums, with sculpture and installation emerging as central focuses. She confesses that true comfort in any single medium is not her primary aim. "I am not sure I feel comfortable in any single medium, and I think that is probably a good thing," she admits. "I tend to move toward whatever material feels necessary for the idea at hand."

This inclination towards adaptable materials often stems from practical constraints. For a significant period, Reishi lacked a large studio space, necessitating the development of work that could expand into a space temporarily and then recede. This led to her embrace of materials like sand, modular sculptural elements, and other ephemeral substances. "Over time those limitations became part of the language of the work itself," she observes.

Reishi is drawn to materials that embody fragility and the potential for transformation. Installation, in particular, allows her to construct immersive environments where these concepts can fully unfold. "Where the viewer is not just looking at an object but stepping into a moment or a story," she elaborates.

Echoes of Influence and Sparks of Creation

The concept of "voice" in art is particularly significant for Reishi, especially as a woman navigating an art world that has historically imposed certain limitations. "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," she reflects. Consequently, she finds profound inspiration in women artists who create without seeking external validation.

Swoon’s "Swimming Cities" project serves as a potent example of this audacity and self-possession. "That gesture has always stayed with me, not only because of the work itself but because of the confidence behind it. The willingness to claim space in a world that does not always easily offer it," Reishi explains. This sentiment continually shapes her own artistic approach, reminding her that artistic expression is as much about the courage to speak as it is about the message itself.

The last artwork that truly arrested Reishi’s attention and propelled her back into her studio was encountered during a visit to the Museo Nacional de Antropología in Mexico City. The figurative ceramics from various regions of Mexico left her mesmerized. "The Mayan ceramics in particular took my breath away. There is so much spirit in them, such a sense of presence," she exclaims. One particular ceramic face had such a profound impact that she has revisited it multiple times, each encounter fueling her desire to return to sculpture.

A Global Canvas and a Community’s Embrace

Looking ahead, Reishi’s artistic journey is set to take her to Reykjavik, Iceland, for a summer residency at Raf Gallery. This opportunity coincides with a total solar eclipse passing directly over Reykjavik on August 12th and the city’s annual Menningarnótt festival of arts and culture.

Her exhibition will feature sculptures and a sand installation that will weave together the myth of the birth of Baltic amber with reflections on eclipse mythology and the interplay of darkness and light. "The sand will come from the local shoreline, and at the end of the exhibition I invite the community to dismantle the installation with me," Reishi reveals. "We carry the sand back to the ocean and return it with a wish, prayer, or intention."

Iceland holds a special place in Reishi’s artistic landscape, with the volcanic beaches of Reynisfjara having inspired the black sand she frequently uses. Creating work there during such a rare celestial event feels deeply meaningful.

Reishi’s preference for showcasing her work spans various contexts. While her installations have graced galleries, museums, and even empty storefronts, her most cherished venue for ephemeral works remains the beach. "When I lived near the sea in Washington State, friends and I would sometimes build temporary altars from flowers, driftwood, shells, and plants as offerings to the water. The tide would slowly carry everything away," she reminisces. "There is something very special about building something together that only exists for that one night."

The Unfolding Narrative of Surreal Salon

The Surreal Salon experience itself was a highlight for Reishi, characterized by an electrifying energy. "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," she enthuses.

An unexpected moment early in the evening underscored the ephemeral nature of her work. An accidental collision with the platform supporting her installation caused it to shift, altering the meticulously drawn sand patterns. While fortunate that no one was harmed, this incident inadvertently highlighted the essence of the piece. "Some people had assumed the sand had been glued down or painted in place. When it shifted, it suddenly became clear that the entire surface was loose and hand-drawn," Reishi observes. She then proceeded to meticulously repair the patterns, re-drawing them while onlookers watched.

This spontaneous act of restoration became a powerful metaphor for her art. "For me, that moment captured the spirit of the work. 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," Reishi concludes. "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."

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.

Explore River Reishi’s work at riverreishi.com and on Instagram at @riverreishi.