William Kentridge Premieres New Film at Goodman Gallery's 60th Anniversary
To mark its 60th anniversary, Goodman Gallery is showcasing the global debut of William Kentridge's nine-minute stop-animation film, 'A Nicely Built City (Never Resists Destruction).' This work is the twelfth installment in his 'Drawings for Projection' series, which began in 1989. The exhibition, which will continue until 7 November 2026, features new pieces connected to Kentridge's 'L'Orfeo' for the 2026 Glyndebourne Festival. The film draws inspiration from early 20th-century proverbs from West Africa and includes approximately 50 charcoal drawings and 14,000 frames. A recurring black cat morphs into various objects, while a bronze sculpture titled 'Fat Cat,' influenced by Bulgakov's 'The Master and Margarita,' is also part of the display. Kentridge contemplates South Africa's contrasting futures. Interview by Paul Carey-Kent, based on material from 24 September 2026.
Key facts
- Goodman Gallery's 60th anniversary hosts the global premiere of William Kentridge's 'A Nicely Built City (Never Resists Destruction)'.
- The nine-minute stop-animation film is the twelfth in Kentridge's 'Drawings for Projection' cycle, ongoing since 1989.
- The exhibition runs to 7 November 2026 at Goodman Gallery, Cork Street.
- The film's title adapts early 20th-century West African proverbs, mainly from Ghana, used by Kentridge since the 1990s.
- The starting point was a drawing of the aftermath of a 2023 gas explosion in Johannesburg's main thoroughfare.
- About 50 charcoal drawings used to animate the film are on show; the film comprises around 14,000 frames.
- A black cat, a recurring protagonist, transforms into a typewriter, cash register, bare tree, and cremation urn.
- A separate bronze sculpture 'Fat Cat' references Mikhail Bulgakov's 'The Master and Margarita'.
Entities
Artists
- William Kentridge
- Paul Carey-Kent
- Claudio Monteverdi
- Sir Sydney Kentridge
- Archbishop Desmond Tutu
- Nelson Mandela
- Soho Eckstein
- Giotto
- Masaccio
- David
- Picasso
- Mikhail Bulgakov
- Greta Goiris
- Anthea Pokroy
- Helga Mundt
Institutions
- Goodman Gallery
- Glyndebourne Festival
- Artlyst
Locations
- Johannesburg
- South Africa
- Ghana
- Cork Street
- Savile Row
- Stalinist Russia
Sources
- Artlyst —