Dripping Fist

The photogravure Dripping Fist is closely linked to Robin Rhodes’ performative practice: the image was created after one of his performances in which he wrapped his hand in fabric and used it to create a mural. Captured photographically and removed from this context, the seemingly simple motif offers a wide range of interpretations: the fabric wrapped around the wrist resembles a bandage, the dark colour looks like dripping blood or thick, black oil.
A symbol of strength and perseverance, the black fist is closely identified in the United States with the Black Power movement and the struggle for civil rights. Against the historical backdrop apartheid in South Africa, Rhodes’ country of birth, it may reference Nelson Mandela, who raised his fist in triumph upon his release from prison. The strength of the photogravure printing technique is its ability to depict the various shades of grey, which gives the motif a sculptural presence and underscores its symbolic qualities.