17/03/2026
WARREN MAROON | THE HANDSHAKE'S NOT WORTH THE GRIP
UNTIL 11 APRIL 2026
Visit the gallery to view the latest solo by the 2026 Investec Emerging Artist Award winner, Warren Maroon.
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📸Michael Hall
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‘The handshake’s not worth the grip’ examines the relationship of power through two ordinary objects: a hammer and a nail. One is a function of intent, the other serves as evidence of that.
Warren Maroon drives us to question what makes a tool such as a hammer successful in its action. A bending, sinking, disappearing effect. Its function depends on repetition, a relentless force striking until resistance gives way. The hammer’s authority is only successful with a yielding nail and that nail is only successful if it co-operates in a straight line. Any deviation such as a bend or a twist or a refusal renders the nail ineffective. It is discarded for one that better follows the rules.
Through this mundane exchange, a quiet system emerges. One object acts; the other receives. The hammer enforces its will through repeated action, through blows so ordinary they become procedural rather than violent.
By isolating these tools from the practical applications, the works on exhibition examine how authority is established and how repetition turns force into structure. The collection of sculptural installations and works on paper reflects on the subtle mechanics of human conditioning and how easily the roles of action and submission become embedded within the routine structures we inhabit.