Robin Rhode traces the origins of his humor-oriented art practice in this preview of the upcoming "Johannesburg" episode from Season 9 of the "Art in the Twenty-First Century" television series.

Recalling his early experiments with performance and photography, Rhode describes taking photographs of himself interacting with wall drawings of objects. "We use humor as a mode of survival," says the artist, "and we use play as a means to destabilize various dominant structures."

Robin Rhode was born in Cape Town, South Africa, in 1976. Inspired by youth street culture and art history, Rhode creates drawings, paintings, photography, and films. In Rhode’s work, urban walls become his canvases, static images are put into motion, and the artist becomes a performer and street interventionist.

Learn more about the artist at:
https://art21.org/artist/robin-rhode/

"Johannesburg" from Season 9 of "Art in the Twenty-First Century" premieres September 21, 2018 at 9:00 p.m. on PBS.

Learn more about the new season at:
https://art21.org/season9