Temporary Bookshop XVIII
Sophie Rowley
19 September – 20 October 2024

Looiersgracht 60 is pleased to present Temporary Bookshop XII in tandem with Repetition is a Form of Change, the first major solo exhibition by German-New Zealand artist Sophie Rowley. With a background in Textiles and Material studies, Rowley’s work is deeply rooted in a feminist ethos, often employing traditionally feminine mediums to challenge ingrained biases that govern artistic expression along gendered lines. In this exhibition, Rowley embarks on a metaphysical exploration of the transformative power of repetitive gestures, delving into complex themes of identity, gender, power, and society. Inspired by her departure from a fundamentalist community and the deconstruction of its doctrines, Rowley’s practice prioritizes doubt over certainty, embracing repetition as both a visual motif and embodied process that drives evolutionary change.

Curated by Looiersgracht 60, the bookshop offers a literary backdrop for those seeking to explore the exhibition’s central themes more deeply. The carefully selected collection includes publications that have shaped Rowley’s artistic practice, featuring books, essays, and poems on art, culture, history, and philosophy. Among them is the titular essay by Søren Kierkegaard, whose reflections on repetition served as a key inspiration for the exhibition. The selection encourages visitors to engage with the conceptual underpinnings of Rowley’s work and to consider how repetition can serve as a catalyst for change in both art and life. Additionally, the bookshop showcases exclusive, limited-edition works by the artist. Crafted from white cotton and embroidered in blue, the pieces incorporate fragments from her featured poem, merging text and textile in a tangible expression of her vision.

Available Books:

Barber, Elizabeth Wayland. Women’s Work: The First 20,000 Years - Women, Cloth, and Society in Early Times. New York: W. W. Norton & Company, 1996.

Erni, Peter, Martin Huwiler, and Christope Marchand. Transfer: Erkennen Und Bewirken. 1st ed. Zürich: Lars Müller Publishers, 1999.

Federici, Silvia. Caliban and the Witch: Women, the Body and Primitive Accumulation. New York: Autonomedia, 2004.

Glimcher, Arne. Agnes Martin: Paintings, Writings, Remembrances. New York: Phaidon, 2012.

Godden, Salena. Pessimism Is for Lightweights - 30 Pieces of Courage and Resistance. London: Rough Trade Books, 2023.

Hecht, Jennifer Michael. Doubt: A History. San Francisco: HarperOne, 2004.

hooks, bell. All About Love: New Visions. New York: Simon & Schuster, 2000.

Kierkegaard, Søren. Repetition: An Essay in Experimental Psychology. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1946.

Montell, Amanda. Cultish: The Language of Fanaticism. New York: Harper Wave, 2021.

Oram, Daphne. An Individual Note of Music, Sound and Electronics. United Kingdom: Anomie Publishing, 2016.

Piron, François. Mangelos. Paris: Paraguay Press, 2014.