Robin Rhode

From a very early age Robin Rhode was influenced by wall paintings in Johannesburg. These were for him an important poetical counterpoint to the city's urban violence. Today he creates performances during which he or an actor draws on walls or on the floor. Using white chalk, charcoal crayon, water and industrial paint, he depicts objects around which he develops a pantomime inspired by street culture. When drawing a candle, he attempts to extinguish it by blowing; when drawing a bicycle he tries to clean it with a bucket of water. In Microphone (2005) shown above, the absence of sound and the movement of the protagonist spark the spectator's imagination as to the content of the speech or rap song. The work evokes the engagement and revolt of a speaker who harangues his audience. (Wall notes accompanying Micophone in the Pompidou Centre).  Read more about Robin Rhode.