The Multiplicity of Roni Horn

Photography by Brigitte Lacombe

Roni Horn’s artistry is marked by a consistent evocation of uncertainty and an aversion to definitive conclusions. Her work is deeply rooted in the exploration of identity’s fluid nature, the ambiguity of meaning and perception, and the concept of doubling. These themes are a driving force behind her artistic practice.

Since the mid-1990s, Horn has been acclaimed for her cast-glass sculptures, whereby colored molten glass is shaped and annealed over months, resulting in pieces with rough, translucent sides and a fire-polished, liq- uid-like top surface. These sculptures, interacting with natural light, exhibit an eternal mutability, challenging fixed visual identities and reflecting on the concept of identity itself.

Drawing is a fundamental aspect of Horn’s practice, revealing her fascination with interpretation, mirroring and textual play. Her works on paper manipulate language and form to create a visual poetry, blurring the lines between text and image, and exploring the sculptural potential of drawing.

Horn’s photographic works further delve into themes of identity and change. Notable projects, such as The Selected Gifts, (1974-2015), use serial imagery to create what she describes as a “vicarious self-portrait”, examining the self through objects and the impact of repetition and doubling on perception and memory. Horn’s multifaceted approach across different mediums encapsulates her ongoing investigation into the complexities of identity and perception.