In Nadir Ractliffe has combined photographs of aggressive dogs (signs of violence and savage police control) with images of squatter camps, forced removals, relocation settlements, and garbage dumps to communicate the widespread fear and anger caused by the states of emergency imposed by the apartheid government in its desperation to maintain control of South Africa in its final years. The artist has described Nadir as "a way to image this world gone mad, without simply reiterating the discourse of resistance." She combined photocopies, sketches, and collage to arrive at final compositions, which she then printed using layers of photolithography, varnish, and screenprint.

Gallery label from

Impressions from South Africa, 1965 to Now, March 23–August 14, 2011.

Medium One from a series of sixteen photolithograph and screenprints
Dimensions composition: 21 9/16 x 34 3/16" (54.8 x 86.8 cm); sheet: 26 15/16 x 39" (68.5 x 99 cm)
Publisher Jo Ractliffe, Cape Town
Printer Jo Ractliffe, atMichaelis School of Fine Art, University of Cape Town
Edition 10
Credit Gift of the Associates
Object number 1087.2007.1
Series Nadir 14-16
Department Drawings and Prints

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