River Reishi Wins Surreal Salon 18 with Ephemeral Installation Selected by Swoon

River Reishi received the Best in Show award at Surreal Salon 18 for her installation 'Surface Tension,' which features a figure emerging from dark water surrounded by hand-drawn black sand and amber. Guest juror Caledonia Curry, known as Swoon, selected the winning piece. The exhibition, held at Baton Rouge Gallery, serves as an unofficial kickoff to Mardi Gras season, with attendees often wearing costumes inspired by the artworks. Reishi's work explores thresholds between worlds, using fragile materials that transform over time. She described the installation's temporary nature, noting how vibrations altered the sand patterns during the event. Reishi has long admired Swoon's work, particularly the 2009 'Swimming Cities of Serenissima' project at the Venice Biennale, which influenced her own artistic approach. This summer, Reishi will create a new installation at Raf Gallery in Reykjavik, Iceland, during a total solar eclipse on August 12, 2026, using local sand to explore Baltic amber mythology. She often works with ephemeral materials, drawing inspiration from Mayan ceramics at the Museo Nacional de Antropología in Mexico City and black sand from Reynisfjara beach in Iceland. Reishi's practice spans sculpture and installation, focusing on myth, grief, and feminine water deities.