At Locust Projects, Ema Ri’s ‘This Too Shall Pass’ Is a Meditative Journey

Locust Projects presents the first major large-scale solo show by Miami-based artist Ema Ri, “This Too Shall Pass, ” through Saturday, April 4. (Photo by Pedro Wazzan, courtesy of Locust Projects)

At Locust Projects, Ema Ri’s “This Too Shall Pass” unfolds as a quiet yet expansive meditation on the relationship between the body, spirit, and the natural world. On view through Saturday, April 4, the exhibition marks the Miami-based artist’s most ambitious project to date, transforming the gallery into an immersive environment that invites reflection rather than spectacle.

Upon entering the space, there is a noticeable shift in tempo. The outside world recedes, giving way to a contemplative atmosphere where sound, light, and material work together to slow perception. The exhibition does not demand attention; it gently holds it, encouraging a more inward way of seeing.

At the center of the installation is a sweeping, curved wall — a monumental surface that feels both architectural and organic. Its pale, textured expanse carries traces of the artist’s hand, creating a subtle interplay between gesture and landscape. Depending on the light, the surface seems to shift, at times appearing almost luminous, at others dissolving into shadow. Across from it, a darker counterpart pulses with a raw, tactile energy, suggesting a duality that runs throughout the exhibition: light and dark, presence and absence, the visible and the unseen.

“This Too Shall Pass” delves further into the intricate connections between the body,
spirit, and the unseen forces of nature by incorporating large-scale video art alongside abstract wall drawings and sound art that’s inspired by the natural world. (Photo by Pedro Wazzan, courtesy of Locust Projects)

This dialogue between opposing forces is not presented as conflict, but as balance. Ri’s work resists binaries, instead offering a fluid continuum where transformation is constant. The title itself — “This Too Shall Pass” — functions less as a statement than as a rhythm, echoing through the space as both a reminder and a release.

Video projections further expand this sense of movement. Mirrored imagery of sky, foliage, and water creates shifting, almost kaleidoscope patterns that blur the boundary between the natural and the digital. These visuals do not document nature so much as reinterpret it, suggesting a deeper, more internal landscape. The effect is immersive without being overwhelming, drawing the viewer into a state of quiet observation.

Sound plays an equally important role. Subtle and atmospheric, it weaves through the installation like an unseen current, guiding the experience without dictating it. There are moments where the sound feels almost like breath — a reminder of the body’s presence within the space. Together, these elements create an environment that is felt as much as seen.

“This Too Shall Pass” at Locust Projects marks Miami-based artist Ema Ri’s most ambitious project to date. (Photo by Jayme Kaye Gershen, courtesy of Locust Projects)

Throughout the exhibition, Ri incorporates materials that carry a strong connection to place. Resin-encased flowers, textured surfaces, and stone-like forms evoke the natural world while also suggesting preservation and transformation. These elements appear suspended between states — organic yet altered, fragile yet enduring. They serve as quiet markers of time, holding traces of life even as they point to its impermanence.

The work’s physicality is particularly striking. Ri’s process is evident in the surfaces themselves — scratched, layered, built up, and worn down. There is a sense of the body moving through the work, leaving behind gestures that feel both deliberate and instinctive. This emphasis on process creates an intimacy that contrasts with the scale of the installation.

Benches carved from oolitic limestone are placed within the space, inviting stillness and rest. and remain. This gesture is significant. In a cultural landscape that often prioritizes speed and consumption, “This Too Shall Pass” asks for stillness. It creates the conditions for contemplation, allowing the work to unfold gradually rather than all at once.

(WATCH: An Interview With Ema Ri)

The exhibition also reflects Ri’s ongoing exploration of cycles — of life, death, and renewal. These themes are not presented in a literal or didactic way but are embedded within the material and spatial experience. Rather than being told what to think; space is given to feel, to remember, and to consider a personal relationship to these cycles.

There is a spiritual dimension to the work, though it remains open-ended. Instead of referencing specific traditions, Ri engages with a broader sense of the unseen forces that shape experience but remain difficult to articulate. This openness allows the work to resonate across different perspectives, inviting multiple interpretations.

Importantly, the exhibition maintains a sense of restraint. Despite its scale, it avoids excess. Each element feels intentional, contributing to a cohesive whole that is both immersive and grounded. The balance between visual impact and emotional subtlety is what gives the exhibition its strength.

“This Too Shall Pass” is notable as a Knight Digital Commission, highlighting Locust Projects’ ongoing support for experimental, large-scale work. The exhibition reflects that mission and gives artists space to explore new territory in their practice while remaining connected to personal inquiry.

“This Too Shall Pass” transforms the gallery into an immersive environment that invites reflection rather than spectacle. (Photo by Pedro Wazzan, courtesy of Locust Projects)

What lingers after leaving the exhibition is not a single image, but a state of mind. The work does not resolve; it continues. A quiet resonance remains, reflecting the transient nature of experience and the interconnectedness of all things.

In a time often defined by urgency and noise, “This Too Shall Pass” offers something different — a space to pause, to breathe, and to reflect. It is a deeply considered exhibition that does not seek to overwhelm, but to hold space for transformation, however subtle it may be.

WHAT: Ema Ri, “This Too Shall Pass”

WHERE:  Locust Projects, 297 NE 67th St., Miami

WHEN: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday or by appointment. Closed Sundays and Mondays. Through Saturday, April 4, 2026.

COST: Free

INFORMATION: (305) 576-8570 or locustprojects.org.

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