William Kentridge's First American Retrospective at New Museum Explores Drawing, Film, and South African Politics
Between June 2 and September 16, 2001, New York's New Museum of Contemporary Art showcased the inaugural American retrospective of William Kentridge. This exhibition featured a variety of works, including animated films, charcoal drawings, etchings, monotypes, and the installation "Medicine Chest, 2000." Hailing from Johannesburg, South Africa, Kentridge delves into personal and political narratives, particularly focusing on apartheid. His artistic technique emphasizes spontaneous gestures with charcoal for its unique texture. Notable motifs include evolving interiors, human figures morphing into objects, and inundated spaces, with key figures like Soho Eckstein and Felix Teitlebaum. An interactive CD-ROM by David Krut and CityVarsity was part of the exhibition, although its reproductions did not match the quality of the printed catalogue. Kentridge's art merges surrealism and social realism, reflecting South Africa's social disparities as of April 2001.
Key facts
- William Kentridge's first American retrospective ran from June 2 to September 16, 2001 at the New Museum of Contemporary Art in New York.
- Kentridge uses charcoal drawings and animated films to preserve spontaneous gestures and accidents, with revisions becoming part of the finished work.
- The exhibition included the sculptural installation "Medicine Chest, 2000," created specifically for the show, featuring projections into a medicine cabinet.
- Kentridge's work is influenced by apartheid South Africa, with recurring symbols like transforming interiors and flooded spaces in his films.
- Key characters in his early films are Soho Eckstein and Felix Teitlebaum, with themes of alienation and societal critique.
- An interactive CD-ROM was sold at the museum, published by David Krut and developed with CityVarsity in Cape Town, though its reproductions were noted as lackluster.
- As of April 2001, economic and social issues in Johannesburg included low Black ownership on the stock exchange and high unemployment among young Black South Africans.
- Kentridge's artistic process was shaped by a political science class in college and his reaction to the Johannesburg landscape, seeking "revenge against the nothingness."
Entities
Artists
- William Kentridge
- Maya Deren
- Alfred Jarry
- Henri Matisse
- Pablo Picasso
Institutions
- New Museum of Contemporary Art
- David Krut
- MultiMedia Department of CityVarsity
- Johannesburg City Council
Locations
- New York
- United States
- Johannesburg
- South Africa
- Cape Town