Devon Reina on 'And, Repeat'
With a practice rooted in pattern as a source of structure and reliability, in And, Repeat, Devon Reina explores how the subversion of that security creates the opportunity for chance and resistance.
Dividing the surface of his canvases into a precise grid, Devon begins his paintings by creating self-imposed rules that dictate how he executes the work. The composition is partially decided ahead of time, and his drawn guides serve as a roadmap to the completion of the painting.
Once he begins the painting process, however, materials take the lead, distorting and disrupting his systematic plans with painterly unpredictability.
He responds intuitively to the staining, pooling, and blurring effects that emerge, often abandoning his initial intentions in favor of what the materials suggest, even if that means reorienting the canvas - or stretching the piece in reverse. More on that here.
