Exploring the invisible threads

Now open at Hauser & Wirth, Rashid Rashid Johnson‘s exhibition Anima runs from October 14th to December 21st, 2024, in conjunction with Art Basel Paris 2024. The project showcases Johnson’s latest works across painting, sculpture, and film, reflecting his deep interest in animism and the spiritual life of objects. The title, Anima, points to the artist’s exploration of the liminal space between body and soul.

The exhibition presents two new series of paintings, Soul Paintings and God Paintings, both developed over recent years. These works feature the recurring vesica piscis shape, an almond-like motif symbolizing the space between two circles, which Johnson uses to represent liminality and the unknown. In the Soul Paintings, the motif suggests cranial and skeletal forms, while in the God Paintings, it is rendered vertically, giving it a meditative and ritualistic quality.

Johnson’s method of layering paint, using wet-on-wet techniques or allowing drying periods for reflection, is central to his practice. He views this process as a way to create intersections of meaning and energy. In the Soul Paintings, colors like deep reds, blues, and earthy browns reflect his interest in minor variations that bring ideological shifts while maintaining shared characteristics across the works.

The exhibition also includes a series of bronze sculptures. The Standing Soul Sculptures feature shells and other objects embedded in their surfaces, emphasizing the artist’s tactile connection to his materials. Another group of bronze sculptures, resembling chairs arranged in a circle, evoke an intimate gathering, hinting at Johnson’s use of everyday objects to explore collective experiences.

Johnson’s work in Anima blends personal vulnerability with universal symbolism, encouraging viewers to consider the inner lives of objects and the spiritual connections between them. Through his innovative use of materials and recurring motifs, Johnson invites audiences to reflect on the deeper layers of meaning within his work. The exhibition is a testament to the artist’s ongoing exploration of identity, spirituality, and the unseen forces that shape our world.