Muslim
The art world is often defined by its permanence—the desire to preserve, archive, and display objects that withstand the erosion of time. However, for multidisciplinary artist River Reishi, the true power of art lies in its inevitable disappearance. As the winner of this year’s Surreal Salon 18—a highly anticipated exhibition hosted by the Baton Rouge Gallery and juried by the legendary street artist and sculptor Caledonia Curry, known globally as Swoon—Reishi has captured the attention of the contemporary art community with a practice that dances on the edge of myth, memory, and physical instability.
Her winning installation, Surface Tension, served as the centerpiece of the salon, a haunting meditation on the threshold between the terrestrial and the aquatic. In an exclusive interview, Reishi reflects on the interplay of light, sand, and narrative, and how her work continues to evolve in a world that demands both boldness and fragility.
The Genesis of Surface Tension
To stand before Surface Tension is to witness a transition. The sculpture depicts a female figure caught in the act of emerging from dark, turbulent waters. Her hands reach forward, breaking the plane of existence, suspended in a liminal space between the known world and the mysterious depths of the subconscious.
"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 work is not merely a static object; it is an environment. Embedded with a faint, internal glow, the sculpture pulses with a subtle life force that invites the viewer to lean in, creating a moment of intimate discovery amidst the high-energy atmosphere of the gallery. For Reishi, the piece also carries a regional weight. "Water is often a symbol of life, but it also carries danger and power. Louisiana and the Gulf region know that reality very well. I think some of that tension found its way into the work."
The most striking element of the installation, however, is the field of black sand that surrounds the figure. Hand-drawn into intricate, ephemeral patterns, the sand is a testament to the artist’s interest in impermanence. "I am interested in that fragility," she notes. "In works that cannot quite stay fixed."
A Chronology of Influence: From Venice to Baton Rouge
The trajectory of Reishi’s career has been heavily influenced by the work of her guest juror, Swoon. Their creative connection traces back to 2009, when Reishi first encountered Swoon’s Swimming Cities of Serenissima project at the Venice Biennale. The sight of a fleet of sculptural rafts navigating one of the most institutionalized art spaces in the world left an indelible mark on the young artist.
"The act of arriving that way, without waiting for institutional permission, became part of the artwork itself," Reishi recalls. "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."
This history of inspiration made her victory at Surreal Salon 18 all the more poignant. Having followed the salon from afar for years, Reishi finally experienced it firsthand this season. The event, often described as an unofficial kickoff to the Mardi Gras season, is known for its costume-heavy, otherworldly atmosphere. In a surreal turn of events, Reishi found herself face-to-face with a patron whose costume was explicitly inspired by her own sculpture. "It felt like the work had briefly stepped out of the gallery and into the room," she says.
The Philosophy of the "Unpermitted" Voice
A recurring theme in Reishi’s work is the reclamation of space—specifically the feminine voice in art. When asked about her creative development, she addresses the systemic obstacles women face in establishing an artistic identity.
"Voice is an interesting concept to me as a woman, because women often face particular obstacles when it comes to the emergence of voice," Reishi states. "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. Because of that, I am especially inspired by women who make art without asking permission."
This philosophy of "not asking for permission" translates into her choice of materials. Having spent much of her early career without a permanent studio space, Reishi learned to synthesize her practical limitations into her aesthetic. Sand, modular components, and temporary site-specific installations became her primary tools. By embracing these constraints, she shifted the focus from the "object" to the "experience."
Global Horizons: The Iceland Residency
The momentum from the Surreal Salon win is already propelling Reishi toward her next major project. This August, she will travel to Reykjavik, Iceland, for a residency at Raf Gallery. The timing is intentional, coinciding with a total solar eclipse on August 12 and the city’s renowned Menningarnótt (Culture Night) festival.
"The black sand I often use in my installations was inspired by the volcanic beach at Reynisfjara," Reishi shares. "So being able to create work there during such a rare celestial moment feels very meaningful."
The project, which will explore the myth of the birth of Baltic amber and the relationship between celestial darkness and light, will culminate in a unique community ritual. At the end of the exhibition, Reishi plans to invite the public to help dismantle the installation, carrying the sand back to the ocean as a collective offering of wishes and intentions. This collaborative, ritualistic ending is the hallmark of her practice—acknowledging that art is not a permanent possession, but a shared moment in time.
Resilience and the "Living" Gallery
The Surreal Salon experience provided a literal manifestation of Reishi’s philosophy regarding the fragility of art. Early in the opening night, a visitor accidentally bumped into the display platform, causing the delicate, hand-drawn sand patterns to shift and blur.
While the incident could have been viewed as a catastrophe, Reishi saw it as a revelation. "In a strange way, the moment also revealed something essential about the work," she explains. "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."
Rather than panicking, Reishi sat beside the installation and began the process of re-drawing the patterns while the gallery audience watched. It became a performance piece, a live demonstration of the artist’s commitment to her craft. "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."
Implications for Contemporary Sculpture
River Reishi’s success at Surreal Salon 18 highlights a growing trend in the contemporary art world: a move away from the static, commercialized object toward the experiential and the ephemeral. As museums and galleries struggle to reconcile the digital age with the physical, artists like Reishi are finding ways to make the "moment" the primary medium.
Her work challenges the viewer to be present, to acknowledge the fragility of the environment, and to find beauty in the temporary. By blending ancient storytelling traditions—as seen in her recent fascination with Mayan figurative ceramics—with modern sculptural techniques, Reishi is crafting a new visual language.
As she prepares for her upcoming exhibition in Iceland, Reishi remains steadfast in her belief that art should not be confined to the white cube of the gallery. Whether in a city hall, a storefront, or on a desolate beach, her work invites us to participate in the act of creation, even if only for an hour.
"There is something very special about building something together that only exists for that one night," she says. In a world that often feels permanent and overwhelming, River Reishi’s work offers a quiet, glowing alternative: a reminder that the most meaningful things in life are those that we choose to let go of.
For more information on River Reishi’s upcoming projects and to view her portfolio of installations, visit riverreishi.com or follow her on Instagram at @riverreishi.
Layla Zulfa
Suro Senen
