Rhi Johnson & Monica Usher

Below the Surface

JULY 2 - 24, 2021

Below the Surface

Rhi Johnson and Monica Usher

Curated by Alexandra Lawson 

Below the Surface represents a culmination of observational, investigative and reflective visual narratives by artists Monica Usher and Rhi Johnson. Through the processes of oil painting and reduction linocut printmaking, the artists weave intricate and overlapping layers that allude to everyday environments, concealed or partially revealed content and aspects of the human condition.

The title of the exhibition refers to both the physical processes of layering involved with the work, as evident in the variable surface quality of each piece, and to the notion that experiences in general are multifaceted.  For Monica this relates to a physical duality between what is seen and what becomes hidden, such as in the corners of an overgrown garden, which in turn alludes to the potential for perpetual discovery.  For Rhi, the works map a duality between conscious and unconscious experience, and the simultaneous implications of what is known and unknown. This exhibition is a journey into the unconscious and imagination of both the artist and viewer. 

For details on individual works view the artists pages - Rhi Johnson & Monica Usher

Essay by Alexandra Lawson

Floor Sheet