Untitled, 2025
r1.
mural, installation
For this public art project, I propose to creatively repurpose yellow and black barrier tape—an object universally recognized for signalling danger, restriction, and control. Rather than using it to exclude or isolate, I will transform this utilitarian material into an intricate and expressive installation.
Using the chevron pattern of the tape as a guiding structure, I will weave and construct the tape into an organic, geometric form. The process involves assembling the tape by hand in a way that echoes textile or stitch work, creating a tension between the rigid symbolism of the material and the softness of the final composition.
Once the mural is fully installed, I will use all excess tape generated from the process to create a barricade around the artwork itself. This final gesture—barricading the artwork with the very material it is made from—adds a layer of conceptual reflection. It raises questions about access, visibility, and the nature of public space.
The work explores the paradox of restriction and expression: a material designed to block is reimagined to invite curiosity and aesthetic engagement. In doing so, it becomes a visual metaphor for the invisible boundaries we often navigate in urban life. This project invites viewers to reconsider everyday symbols of control and find beauty and meaning in the spaces between.
Gallery
About the Artist
I’m r1. a contemporary artist from Johannesburg, specializing in multi-layered, site-specific works with a focus on geometric designs, particularly chevrons. My art explores urban structures and boundaries, using symmetry, layering, and visual illusions to engage viewers. I also integrate geometric shapes into both exterior and interior design, blending art with functionality.
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