Body Heat
David Otis Johnson
Opening Reception:
Saturday, March 15th, 5pm-8pm
March 15 - March 29, 2024
LAUNCH Gallery
170 S. La Brea Ave. #202
Los Angeles, CA 90036
Gallery Hours:
Thursday-Saturday: 12pm - 4pm and By Appointment
LAUNCH LA is honored to present David Otis Johnson’s Body Heat, a new collection of neon sculptures and text-based works that explore our desire for human interaction. Presented at the LAUNCH Gallery, Johnson’s latest body of work presents an introspective view of culture through the lens of both form and the classic neon “open” sign, ultimately challenging viewers to question the pervasive impact of consumer culture on our identities.
David Otis Johnson’s sculptures intertwine luminous lines and dynamic forms, evoking a harmonious interplay between light and space. With each piece, he aims to provoke contemplation and spark dialogue, inviting viewers to explore the boundaries of reality and the ethereal beauty that lies within the intangible realm of illuminated vibrance. Drawing inspiration from our physiological relation to light and the language of commerce, his art practice can be seen as a reflection on the power of iconic symbols and their influence on contemporary society.
Johnson illuminates the relationship between the physical sculpture and the light that it casts on its surroundings including the viewers, as well as the sculpture's relationship to the illuminated gas tubes used for commerce, and their relationship to the art world.
With Body Heat Johnson delves further into familiar iconography, like the classic neon “open” sign, pulling the primary colors and well-known framing to reflect on their own path and decisions. By employing familiar visual cues, color schemes, iconic shapes and typography, Johnson creates space for a dialogue about not just the individual pieces but the line between advertisement and art.
The pieces range from a figure in movement to a neon gate, to a sign that takes inspiration from shibari and reads “Practice Restraint.” Among these varied pieces, the throughline is the desire to interact with one another and human relationships to the medium itself. With the electric current, the flow of the plasma, the neon itself is alive, lending life to each sculpture.
“There is purity in neon light; a quality that defies explanation. It is thought that when a pure noble gas, while under vacuum, is excited by high voltage electricity, the atoms that make up that gas lose electrons. The process of electrons floating away and reattaching to other atoms generates light. We, as biological creatures, have light emitting qualities that are equally as magical. From processing sunlight like a plant to cells producing a flash of light in the womb, we’re quite literally in the infancy of understanding our relationship to this source.”
Body Heat opens on March 15th and will remain on view until March 29th at LAUNCH Gallery.
About David Otis Johnson
David Otis Johnson currently lives and works in Southern California. He earned a BA in Fine Art from Hastings College in Hastings, NE where he also studied Biology and Art History. From there he went on to work for textile sculptor Sheila Hicks in Paris, France, to bend neon at the Hollywood School of Neon in Hollywood, FL, and to obtain an MFA at the San Francisco Art Institute in San Francisco, CA. He is a steward of neon not only in his own artwork but also in the restoration of notable artworks of other artists as well as movie props and other beacons of cultural significance.
LAUNCH LA believes exposure to the arts enhances quality of life and strengthens community for all through the shared appreciation of creative expression in all its forms and hybrids. LAUNCH LA is passionate about providing all artists regardless of background, race, color, creed or sexual orientation with quality opportunities to present themselves and their creations that reflect our times to curious and enthusiastic audiences at our Gallery and at important happenings throughout Los Angeles County.
LAUNCH LA recognizes our presence on Tovaangar, the unceded ancestral lands of the Gabrielino-Tongva people who are its rightful caretakers and whose connection to the land. Water, and culture we benefit.