Rashid Johnson's "A Poem for Deep Thinkers" at the Guggenheim: A Mid-Career Survey

Rashid Johnson: A Mid-Career Survey

• 💡 The exhibition "Rashid Johnson: A Poem for Deep Thinkers" at the Guggenheim features nearly 90 works spanning paintings, films, sculptures, and site-specific installations.
• 🎯 The survey aims to showcase Johnson's evolution as an artist, emphasizing that it is a "midpoint" rather than an "end" to his career.
• 🔑 Johnson and Chief Curator Naomi Beckwith collaborated closely, even creating ideal checklists of desired works that largely overlapped, indicating a shared vision.

The Guggenheim Rotunda and Artistic Practice

• 🏛️ Johnson was drawn to the Guggenheim's complex rotunda, seeing its challenging architecture as an opportunity to create art that "dances with the architecture" rather than against it.
• 🌱 The exhibition incorporates living plants, reflecting both Frank Lloyd Wright's original vision for the building as a "terrarium" and Johnson's belief in "life inside of architecture."
• 🎯 The outdoor sculpture "Black Steel in the Hour of Chaos" sets the stage by weaving together references to violence, hip-hop culture (Public Enemy), printing, and art history (Jasper Johns).

Influences and the Written Word

• 🎶 Music, particularly hip-hop, serves as a foundational element and "illustrative soundtrack" for Johnson's life and work, influencing his exploration of jazz, R&B, and critical engagement.
• 📚 Raised in a family of academics, Johnson's relationship with books began as an appreciation for their objecthood before he delved into their content, influencing his artistic practice.
• ✍️ The exhibition title is inspired by Amiri Baraka's poem "A Poem for Deep Thinkers," reflecting Johnson's interest in poetry, contemplation, and navigating complex themes.

Materiality and Thematic Exploration

• ✨ The mosaic work "Untitled" acts as a microcosm of the exhibition, incorporating materials like ceramic tiles, glass, mirror, wood, bronze, and oyster shells, alongside recurring symbols like the vesica piscis.
• 🖼️ An early gallery functions as a "show within a show," sampling various materials and gestures from Johnson's practice, including early spray paint work, bathroom tiles, black wax, soap, and bronze sculptures.
• 🎭 The exhibition includes a stage and piano for live performances, partnerships with poetry organizations, and dedicated programming for teenagers, aiming to create an inviting space for younger audiences.

Personal Reflections and Legacy

• 👨‍👦 Johnson highlights the film "Sanguin" at the top of the rotunda, which depicts him with his father and son, symbolizing his current life stage as both a caregiver and being cared for.
• ⏳ This film explores themes of transition, legacy, and the cyclical nature of care within family relationships.
• 🗓️ Johnson encourages viewers to visit the exhibition twice to fully appreciate the interconnectedness of his work and the wholeness of his artistic vision.