Looiersgracht 60 in Amsterdam presents "Repetition is a Form of Change", the first major solo exhibition by German-New Zealand artist Sophie Rowley, whose pieces create a striking interplay between simplicity and complexity.
Showcasing an intricate body of created over the past two years, Rowley’s art objects are centered around repetition, layers, and meticulous precision, often appearing as if they were coded by a machine. But as many will experience, it’s exactly the opposite. Simple yet crafted with careful attention, her self-developed techniques involve prolonged, meticulous repetition, unfolding over days, weeks, and even months, resulting in intricate, corporeal paintings.
Rowley uses her innovative methods of deconstruction and reconstruction to challenge traditional ideas of creation, blending artistic mediums like textiles and discarded materials. This process-based work reflects a metaphysical inquiry: what does repetition do to the act of creation? As Rowley disentangles canvases and layers materials, she asks us to consider how repeated gestures change both the medium and the perception of what art can be.
Her installations, including two site-specific pieces crafted during her residency, engage viewers from multiple vantage points, from intricate textile sculptures to bold, layered creations. The exhibition reflects Rowley’s personal journey, drawing parallels between her early life in a fundamentalist community and her later deconstruction of those formative beliefs. Through this lens, repetition becomes a way to question entrenched narratives on identity, gender, power, and society.
By balancing destruction and creation, Rowley’s work invites viewers to experience the subtle yet profound shifts that occur when repetition is not just a visual technique but an embodied, transformative process. The exhibition is curated by Soraya Notoadikusumo and Nadine Snijders, founders of Looiersgracht 60 and it remains open from 18 September till 20 October 2024.
Looiersgracht 60 is a non-profit exhibition center based in Amsterdam, focusing on art, design, and architecture. Located in a former cardboard and bottling plant, it serves as a platform for interdisciplinary research-based art projects that bridge the humanities, natural, and social sciences. The space emphasizes the interface between various disciplines and often collaborates closely with artists to create solo exhibitions and educational events.
