William Kentridge's Theatrical Works Explored in Madrid Retrospective

The Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía in Madrid presents "Basta y Sobra," a major retrospective of South African artist William Kentridge (born 1955, Johannesburg), running until March 18, 2018. For the first time, a museum exhibition focuses on Kentridge's theatrical output as set designer, costume designer, and occasional director. The show analyzes three spoken-word plays and four opera productions, including Woyzeck on the Highveld (1992), Faustus in Africa! (1995), Ubu and the Truth Commission (1997), The Return of Ulysses (1998), The Nose (Metropolitan Opera, 2010), Lulu (Met, 2013), and Wozzeck (Salzburg Festival, 2017). Curated by the artist himself with scientific consultancy from museum conservator Soledad Liaño, the exhibition features extensive archival material, much previously unseen, from Kentridge's Johannesburg studio. It highlights his multidisciplinary approach combining drawing, sculpture, collage, performance, film, and video installation, all underpinned by political and social critique of apartheid. The show includes the series Colonial Landscapes, charcoal drawings that also appear as backdrops in his videos and stage sets, and the 2016 video installation Right into Her Arms, a moving theater piece assembled from leftover materials of previous works, paying homage to Kurt Schwitters and surrealist collage. Kentridge recently received Spain's Princess of Asturias Award for the Arts.