John-David Richardson

John-David Richardson and Emily Wiethorn.

Work from HERE YOU COME AGAIN.

“As individuals, each of us has experienced profoundly traumatic encounters with masculinity, violence, and misogyny. These experiences have left indelible marks, shaping who we are as artists and how we navigate the world. In our individual practices, we each grapple with these complex dynamics, unpacking the intersections of gender, power, and trauma. The exhibition Here You Come Again emerged from a shared desire to confront these overlapping narratives collectively. Through this collaborative practice, we reflect on how misogyny and violence have permeated our personal histories and familial lines, tracing their reverberations across generations.

The works presented in this exhibition span images, video, found objects, and vernacular photographs, creating a multifaceted narrative that invites both introspection and dialogue. This body of work seeks to balance vulnerability and strength, exposing the weight of harm while honoring moments of resilience. A deliberate tension is established between what is presented openly and what is safeguarded behind a frame. Imagery that evokes tension, violence, aggression, and fear is left unprotected and deliberately exposed to the viewer’s gaze. These works, raw and unshielded, reflect the fragility and neglect that violence imposes, suggesting that such moments do not warrant the same reverence or care.

In contrast, we have chosen to frame and protect images that symbolize care, comfort, and resilience—portraits and moments imbued with tenderness and personal significance. These protected works act as visual sanctuaries, embodying the safeguarding of memory and preserving what remains intact within ourselves, our mothers, and our shared histories. The juxtaposition between defense and exposure mirrors the emotional duality we experience in navigating these traumas: the instinct to shield what we hold dear while confronting what has harmed us.

Here You Come Again is both a refuge and a reckoning. It is a space to process the lingering impacts of violent men while simultaneously preserving the strength, love, and resilience that persist despite them.” – John-David Richardson