Kentridge's Centre for the Less Good Idea Debuts Internationally at Spoleto Festival
In 2016, William Kentridge and Bronwyn Lace established the Centre for the Less Good Idea in Johannesburg. Its inaugural international event took place at the Festival dei Due Mondi in Spoleto, organized by Fondazione Carla Fendi and Mahler & LeWitt Studios. The exhibition titled "Unhappen Unhappen Unhappen – Pepper’s Ghost Dioramas," curated by Guy Robertson and Bronwyn Lace, showcases dioramas from Anathi Conjwa, William Kentridge, Micca Manganye, and Sabine Theunissen, along with Noah Cohen's video "Moments of making." Kentridge reminisced about his initial visit to Italy in 1961 and his work with Lia Rumma. Maria Teresa Venturini Fendi announced that Kentridge will be honored with the Carla Fendi STEAM 2025 award. The dioramas are set to tour Europe, displayed in the historic ex-baptistery of Manna d'Oro.
Key facts
- The Centre for the Less Good Idea was founded in 2016 by William Kentridge and Bronwyn Lace in Johannesburg.
- The exhibition 'Unhappen Unhappen Unhappen – Pepper’s Ghost Dioramas' is the Centre's first international activity.
- The exhibition is hosted by Fondazione Carla Fendi and Mahler & LeWitt Studios at the Festival di Spoleto.
- Curators are Guy Robertson and Bronwyn Lace.
- Artists featured: Anathi Conjwa, William Kentridge, Micca Manganye, Sabine Theunissen, and Noah Cohen.
- The dioramas use the Pepper's ghost technique, a Victorian theatrical illusion.
- William Kentridge's first trip to Italy was in 1961 to Levanto and Rome.
- Kentridge will receive the Carla Fendi STEAM 2025 award to support the Centre.
- The dioramas will tour Europe after Spoleto.
- The exhibition is located in the ex-baptistery of Manna d'Oro.
Entities
Artists
- William Kentridge
- Bronwyn Lace
- Guy Robertson
- Anathi Conjwa
- Micca Manganye
- Sabine Theunissen
- Noah Cohen
- Lia Rumma
- Maria Teresa Venturini Fendi
- Ludovico Pratesi
- Saverio Verini
- Vladimir Mayakovsky
Institutions
- The Centre for the Less Good Idea
- Fondazione Carla Fendi
- Mahler & LeWitt Studios
- Festival dei Due Mondi
- Festival di Spoleto
- Carla Fendi Foundation
- The Centre For The Less Good Idea
- Palazzo Collicola
- Teatro Nuovo
- Teatro Caio Melisso Carla Fendi
- Ex-Battistero della Manna d'Oro
Locations
- Johannesburg
- South Africa
- Spoleto
- Italy
- Levanto
- Rome
- Naples
- Tiber
- Manna d'Oro