Re-enacting the Archive: untimely meditations on the use and abuse of repetition

The essay argues that reenactment of past events and artworks can be a critical strategy. Using theoretical writings by Friedrich Nietzsche and Guy Debord, the text examines the film Alien: Resurrection to propose a mode of repetition that doesn't collapse into the cyclical production of novelty dictated by the logic of the market.

Artists in the Archive explores the agency and materiality of the archival document through a stunning collection of critical writings and original artworks. It examines the politics and philosophy behind re-using remains, historicising this artistic practice and considering the breadth of ways in which archival materials inform, inflect and influence new works.

Taking a fresh look at the relationships between insider know-how and outsider knowledge, Artists in the Archive opens a vital dialogue between a global range of artists and scholars. It seeks to trouble the distinction between artistic practice and scholarly research, offering disciplinary perspectives from experimental theatre, performance art, choreography and dance, to visual art making, archiving and curating.