The act of repetition, whether it’s physical, emotional, natural or unnatural, inherently results in transformation. With a specific curiosity for this phenomena, curators Delaney Yvonne and Rowen Dinsmore are united by a fascination with the idea of transformation caused through repetition. Again & Then explores how recurring forms, gestures, or concepts can evolve into something unexpected or predictable over time. 

 

Repetition provides structure and stability, while transformation invites evolution. When appreciated in relation to one another, an endless realm of observations unfold. Together, they create rhythm, meaning, and development. 

 

The idea which snowballed into Again & Then was borne from reflections of Walter Benjamin’s “The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction," a 1936 essay that analyzes how mechanical reproduction, like photography and film, changes the nature of art, diminishing its “aura” by removing it from its original context. He argued that reproduction weakens originality, flattening the history of a piece. Yet, when forms, gestures, or concepts persist, they evolve and shift. What may look like loss from one angle can also be seen as something new taking shape. A single form, when reproduced, can begin to take on new meaning – on the contrary, rejecting repetition may preserve its aura. Whether subtle or dramatic, the showcased artworks speak to this tension between stability and change. 

 

The artists were asked to explore repetition as a process. When something is repeated, what takes shape? 

 

Through the lens of 13 artists ranging in style, medium, and perspective, an opportunity to explore the vast interpretations of transformation through repetition is on display throughout this exhibition. 

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The produced artworks share a labyrinth of conclusions - through repeated imagery, strokes and actions which transformed materials, relationships and identities. Across the work, transformation appears in two main forms: material and metaphorical. Material transformation appears as fragile stems woven into strength, wood weathered down into new shapes, pencil strokes building form from nothing, and images recreated and distorted. Metaphorical transformation appears as memories recalled and refocused, breakups expressed, and new identities revealed through quiet shifts or precise ritual. The works reveal that persistent gestures like weaving, burning, reshaping, layering, dancing or reconstructing can accumulate into profound change. 

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The artworks placed together unveil a unified story that transformation is an evolving process. They remind us that change is rarely sudden; it happens slowly. Transformation is not a single event, but a gradual shift. Again & Then invites viewers to observe how even granular repeated actions can spark transformation, reminding us that change is always in motion, both around us and within us.

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- Delaney Yvonne and Rowen Dinsmore,

Co-Curators of Again & Then