Motion
Robin Rhode is a mixed media artist that has an interesting focus towards his work; his work involves having more movement within his art. These particular movement can have some form of meaning, depending on where or when. The materials, as well as the medium he uses also play an important factor within his works as well. Rhode was also known to be a street artist and made most of his work in South Africa, the same country where William Kentridge originated his work.
One work that Robin Rhode did was an assortment of wall art he has created in Johannesburg. In Johannesburg, Rhode was able to gather a bunch of artist that lived within the city and create street art within a wall; within that wall, they were able to create an array of geometric shapes and animate a person moving within the shapes at the same time. From there, they were able to make shots of the subjects movement, frame by frame.
Within the wall murals they have created, Rhode wanted his viewers to not only show them that these are just wall paintings, but to also represent time and space within the objects the person is interacting with. The artists also has tried to use this approach to his art to separate us from the outside world that we are used to living in and focus on the shapes that can be from another world. Within the mural he has created in Johannesburg, there are a few tools he used in order for other elements to interact with the shapes of the mural. The first one includes a person within the mural animation; this person was referenced by Rhode to be known as a doppelganger. A doppelganger is known to be a symbol for the artist representing himself as if he is interacting with the objects. The second tool he also used within the mural animation would be the bike. The bike is covered in the same paint color as the wall, representing an invisible force within the animation; the doppelganger would stand and interact with the bike in order for the viewers to know that the subject is floating within space or playing around with gravity.
Other than just the bike being a form of a tool within Rhode's work, It also had various uses within multiple works he has shown in his career. Some showings would either include a bike as a drawing within a performance art, or used within an exhibition as a tool used for drawing. Another thing that this bike represented within the artist's mind is how it connects within South Africa; the bike was often used to ride around the streets of Johannesburg, as well as a representation of sharing the culture and commonality of South Africa as a whole. Being born in South Africa, Rhode continues to use his talents to promote other people in his country to expand their creative thinking as artists.
Robin Rhode's approach to art is truly fascinating and innovative. I particularly appreciate his focus on incorporating movement into his artwork and the meaning that can be conveyed through it. It's also interesting to note that he started as a street artist in South Africa, and that he has brought that same energy and sense of exploration into his more traditional gallery work. The mural he created in Johannesburg is a great example of this, as he used various tools such as the doppelganger and the bike to create a sense of otherworldliness and to invite the viewer to engage with the mural in a more interactive way. It's clear that Rhode is not only a talented artist, but also a thoughtful one who is constantly pushing the boundaries of what art can be.
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