- 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.