William Kentridge Discusses Rilke, Death Drive and Absurdity as New Film Premieres in London

South African artist William Kentridge's latest film premiered in London, where he spoke with John-Baptiste Oduor in a conversation published by Ocula. The discussion centered on Rilke's poem Orpheus. Eurydice. Hermes, touching on the death drive and what Kentridge describes as the importance of absurdity. Kentridge argues that tragedy is not an effective means of addressing social disaster, a position that shapes his approach to artmaking. The interview was conducted in connection with the London premiere of the new film and appears in Ocula's magazine. Kentridge is represented by Goodman Gallery, the South African gallery referenced in the source URL. The conversation places literary and psychoanalytic concepts — Rilke's poetry and the death drive — alongside Kentridge's practice, which has long engaged with social and political subject matter rooted in his native South Africa. The exchange was published by Ocula, an online platform focused on contemporary art.