Merida Studio, a contemporary artist workshop that creates textile art, will be presenting a solo exhibition of artist-in-residence Sylvie Johnson’s work in Design Miami’s avant-garde Curio Program (Booth C11). “We are thrilled to be a part of the 20th exhibition of Design Miami, and more specifically to be part of the Curio, which allows galleries to explore compelling narratives,” says Catherine Connolly, Director of Merida Studio. “Our exhibition, created by Sylvie, will serve as a place of reflection, where visitors can slow down, unwind, and let their senses reawaken while experiencing Sylvie’s work.”
Merida Studio will present three artist’s proofs by Sylvie Johnson in the form of a tokonoma. Johnson conceived the intimate, monochromatic shadowbox to emulate the feeling of quiet meditation when alone with a work of art. “I wanted to recreate the feeling I have every time I have the chance to sit in front of an art piece in a private Japanese ryokan or alone in a museum. I love how intimate and full a feeling it can be to have a moment to dive into a piece for a few minutes or hours. I wanted people to experience this meditative moment even within a fair,” says Johnson.
To create the serene, shadowed alcove, earth-toned walls, floor, and ceiling form the monochromatic shadowbox of the tokonoma. The pieces selected from Johnson’s series Atelier: Yarn Unveiled embody the artist’s deep reverence for yarn. Accompanied by an “R” Bench by George Nakashima, a Tsuiki copperware vase, and an ikebana floral arrangement, her works invite individuals to focus on a seemingly minimal curation. As the viewer slows their gaze in the quiet recesses of the booth, their attention falls deeper into the details of the work.
As Sylvie says in her essay, Invisible Threads, which will be available to visitors, “We don’t always listen to the voice urging us to look a little longer—to observe carefully, not all at once, but over time. The voice invites us to witness the intricate ballet of life—each moment shaped by a different director. The more I practice this listening, the more the invisible becomes visible.”
The booth is an homage to the quiet voice urging us to observe carefully so that the invisible becomes visible.
