Magali Reus's first solo exhibition in London features sculptural works with foreboding water-level markers.

The exhibition 'As mist, description' by Magali Reus is on display at South London Gallery from 23 March to 27 May 2018. It showcases sculptural pieces that instill a quiet sense of unease through water-level markers etched into curved walls. Featured works include items from her Hwael and Sentinel series, as well as the independent piece Crane, all produced in 2017. Crane resembles a forsaken hotel reception desk, cluttered with toppled casts of buckets and vases displaying ticket prints, spilling concrete-hued Styrofoam peanuts and white numerals. The Hwael series, derived from the Anglo-Saxon term for whale, comprises powder-coated metal tubing skeletons embellished with boiler-like shapes and engraved camping utensils. The Sentinel pieces incorporate embroidered cotton webbing akin to firehoses, affixed to walls with resin plaques showcasing matchbox designs. Reus blends industrial techniques with handmade elements, employing materials that contrast with their usual purposes, creating a sense of ambiguous familiarity. The exhibition conveys a melancholic tone, probing themes of permanence and hinting at potential disasters like floods or fires, with a notable absence of human presence. Flood markers such as 34, 36, 38, 40, and 42 suggest either an imminent flood or drought, ultimately transforming the environment into an unstable sculpture.