Constructed rhythms II, 2026
Video, Edition of 3
85 seconds
Artist’s Statement
Performed by Nqobile Mkari
Shot and edited by Kabelo Matsile
Constructed rhythms I and Constructed rhythms II are video performances, part of a three-part series within Moving As Resistance, a body of work by Nqobile Mkari. The body of work explores how movement in performance art can respond to and challenge the rhythms of Johannesburg’s urban space through the embodied experience of a Black female body navigating the city.
In these particular video performances, the focus is on the experience of being a pedestrian in the city, where movement is shaped by systems of time and control. The works unfold at pedestrian crossings through a simple rule: movement is only allowed when the robot turns green and must stop when it turns red. The robot functions as a system that regulates the body, determining when movement is permitted and when it is suspended.
Within this structure, the body moves in rigid, repetitive and almost robotic ways, mirroring the constructed rhythms that regulate movement within the city. The experience becomes one of waiting, sudden release, and enforced stillness, where movement is never fully autonomous. The uniform and veil extend this reading, suggesting discipline, conformity, and adaptation, reflecting the ways in which these rhythms are often accepted, learned, and performed.
Shot and edited by videographer and photographer Kabelo Matsile, the videos use framing, colour grading and manipulation of speed to strengthen this concept. The speeding up of movement shortens time, exposing the city’s irregular pace, where pedestrians continuously adapt to pressure and tight schedules, while vehicles travel more smoothly.
At the centre of the video performances is a question: who is the city designed for, and whose movement is prioritised?
Video Stills
