Artwork: Robin Rhode, *The Lightning Bird*, (detail) 2022

South African artist Robin Rhode’s artwork combines street art, performance, storytelling, and a wonderful use of ephemeral mark making like chalk drawing, as well as unconventional methods incorporating bicycles and skateboards. In his work The Lightning Bird (2022) he is restaging mythologies to pass stories onto future generations.

He wrote this about his piece: “In some traditions, the lightning bird is believed to be a messenger of the gods, sent to deliver divine justice or punishment to those who have wronged others. It is said to strike down evildoers with bolts of lightning, leaving behind a trail of destruction in its wake.
Despite its fearsome reputation, the lightning bird is also revered for its role in the natural world. In many African cultures, storms are seen as necessary for cleansing the earth and replenishing the land with water, and the lightning bird is seen as a symbol of the cyclical nature of life and the power of renewal.
In some stories, brave heroes embark on quests to seek out the lightning bird, hoping to harness its power for their own purposes. Yet, the lightning bird remains elusive, appearing only when it chooses and disappearing just as quickly, leaving those who encounter it in awe of its majestic and terrifying presence.
In African mythology, the lightning bird serves as a reminder of the awe-inspiring forces of nature and the mysteries of the cosmos, inspiring both fear and wonder in those who dare to glimpse its power.”