Layer, Mark, Repeat

Chicago Artists Coalition is pleased to present Layer, Mark, Repeat, a duo exhibition featuring new works by HATCH artists-in-residence Bryana Bibbs and Sirimas Benz Amatayakul, curated by Cristobal Alday. The exhibition will be on view from June 3 - July 14, 2022, with an opening reception on Friday, June 3, 5-8pm.

Would you do things again and again over an extended period of time without expecting a result? This very question is being pondered throughout Layer, Mark, Repeat. Both Bryana Bibbs and Sirimas Benz Amatayakul are exploring their own processes, and questioning why they do what they do repeatedly.

Take it one step at a time or in this case, one weft at a time. Bibbs’ practice is used to work through the daily occurrences and struggles of life, but also past traumas. Every step is repeated daily, weekly, and even monthly. It can become second nature, even mindless after a certain point. However, through these repeated steps that it takes to “complete” a weaving is where the process of the past unfolds. By cutting and weaving together diary entries, Bibbs is emphasizing the importance of these recurring actions in her piece, After. What is being hidden in plain sight? Will repetition lead to salvation?

Amatayakul practices a way of shedding all her layers when the brush hits the canvas. By letting go of her personal signifiers, she establishes a relationship with the paint and other materials that extends beyond her thoughts. What is left is a raw pulp of ever-expanding possibilities. By going over layers of previous materials again and again, Amatayakul is adding to the notion of what is not visible right away. What is waiting to be revealed through the process? How do you know when to move forward?

Flashbacks of red appearing on strips of paper. Look beyond the wooden panels. Both Bibbs and Amatayakul take their repetitive processes and invite us to think about our own healing while we watch them try to work through their own. In a sense of exploration, both artists are using materials to build a connection between themselves and others, showcasing that although healing is an individual act, it takes a community to truly mend.

Image: After All This Time, Are We Healed?, spliced image using works by Bryana Bibbs and Sirimas Benz Amatayakul created by Cristobal Alday, 2022