Polite Force
Event 3 October 2019
Monochrome process photograph from the 2019 rendition of Christian Nerf’s performance piece ‘Polite Force.’ On the left, a participant dressed in Polite Force riot gear is walking down a street in Cape Town. On the right, a employee of a business posted outside the entrance gives the participant a thumbs-up.
Event: Christian Nerf’s Polite Force patrols the east of Cape Town, October 3, 2019. Image courtesy of A4 Arts Foundation.
Title Polite Force Dates 3 October 2019 Location Offsite Tagline Polite Force patrols the east City. Credits

Participants:
Maria Garces
Gregory Nerf
Patrick Tshimanga Tahilombo
Christian Cheri
Mangi Besa

Kathryn Smith writes that the first noteworthy performance of Christian Nerf's Polite Force took place in 2002 outside the World Trade Centre, Johannesburg. The late artist Barend de Wet was the sole member (Smith, K. 2019. Christian Nerf's Polite Force). 

Since then, Polite Force units – groups of leaderless, anonymous participants dressed in Polite's riot gear – have patrolled all over the world, offering help to strangers.

Christian Nerf's Polite Force at A4 Arts Foundation coincides with the launch of Proto and a live performance by multi-disciplinary artist Bonolo Kavula. The project forms a part of his residency at A4.

Monochrome process photograph from the 2019 rendition of Christian Nerf’s performance piece ‘Polite Force.’ On the right, two participants dressed in ‘Polite Force’ riot gear interact with member of the public on a street corner.
Event: Christian Nerf’s Polite Force patrols the east of Cape Town, October 3, 2019. Image courtesy of A4 Arts Foundation.
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