Rashid Johnson's 'Shelter' transforms South London Gallery with dramatic installation
Rashid Johnson, an American artist, unveiled his inaugural solo exhibition in London at the South London Gallery, named 'Shelter'. This installation showcased black rectangles, shattered mirrors, and intricate decor such as Persian rugs and chaises longues draped in zebra skin. Some sofas were positioned on their sides, displaying scratch marks. The wall hangings incorporated materials like black bathroom tiles and charred red oak boards, enhanced with black soap and branding techniques. Johnson's creations draw on cultural themes related to black identity, including ethnic art, jazz, and color symbolism. The exhibition resonates with Chris Ofili's 2002 work 'The Upper Room', exploring themes of collective trauma and healing, while a stack of red copies of Ellis Cose's 2011 book 'The End of Anger' highlighted current racial issues.
Key facts
- Rashid Johnson's first London solo show was at South London Gallery
- The exhibition 'Shelter' transformed the main gallery into a dramatic space
- Installation included black rectangles, smashed mirrors, and zebra-skin-covered furnishings
- Wall hangings used materials like black bathroom tiles and burned red oak boards
- References cultural elements of blackness, such as ethnic art and jazz
- Compared to Chris Ofili's 2002 installation 'The Upper Room' at Victoria Miro
- Objects allude to Freud's therapy room, addressing collective post-trauma
- Featured Ellis Cose's 2011 book 'The End of Anger' as the only color element
Entities
Artists
- Rashid Johnson
- Chris Ofili
Institutions
- South London Gallery
- Victoria Miro
Locations
- London
- United Kingdom