Expectant Fluid was created collaboratively at the Nirox Foundation, in February 2009, by William Kentridge, Rose Shakinovsky and Claire Gavronsky (also known collectively as the artist duo, Rosenclaire). The print was editioned for release by the David Krut Workshop in 2011. For the creation of the print, each of the three artists drew a self-portrait from their reflections on the copper plate. There are two portraits of Kentridge; one drawn by him and the other by Gavronsky.
Above each of the three artists’ portraits there are three pots pouring liquid – expectant fluid – that correlate with the words Clotho, Lachesis and Atropos. These are the names of three sisters, from Greek mythology, who each deal with controlling people’s lives from birth, life expectancy and death. The circle under the first pot represents life, while the scissors underneath the third pot represents death.
See this post for images of the making of the print.
Complement this with History of Art, another print created in collaboration between Kentridge and Rosenclaire.