William Kentridge is a South African artist born in 1955 in Johannesburg. He is known for his charcoal drawings and stop-motion animated films that often deal with politics and history. His drawings have a monochrome style but sometimes include blue details. He often uses exaggerated motions and expressions in his animated works. Kentridge believes that an artist's drawings should start from real-world observations rather than abstract emotions.
2. William Kentridge (Born on 28 April 1955)
South African artist – Born in Johannesburg, but
ethnically Jewish
King Edward VII School a Bachelor of Arts degree
in Politics and African Studies at the University of the
Witwatersrand a diploma in Fine Arts from the
Johannesburg Art Foundation
Well-known with his “palimpsest-liked drawings” (重
寫本素描)
Has ever had his installation works selected for the
exhibition during the “ART BASEL (HONG KONG)” in
March 2016
3. William Kentridge’s popularity
William Kentridge at Goodman Gallery, Johannesburg and Capetown - Galleries sector,
Art Basel in Hong Kong 2016 (Photo: Courtesy of Art Basel)
Source - http://observer.com/2016/03/7-best-solo-booths-at-art-basel-hong-kong/
4. William Kentridge’s art style
Charcoal / Pastel Drawing on Paper (Monochrome, but reserve
some parts being described in blue)
As similar as the movie episodes
With the humorous features of caricature arts from the
newspapers
Expressionistic brushstrokes + Exaggerative motions
Feels annoyed with the totalitarian, incapable and corruptive
administrations of the latter African regimes – adapts to
withdraw himself from bureaucracy and enjoy a retreated life
Tells about his desire for avoiding the risk of racial
discriminations against himself as he knows that he, as a Jewish,
might not be a favourite model among the black natives of
Johannesburg
5. Adopted from Wikipedia:
"My drawings don't start with a 'beautiful mark',"
writes Kentridge, thinking about the activity
of printmaking as being about getting the hand to lead
the brain, rather than letting the brain lead the hand.
"It has to be a mark of something out there in the
world. It doesn't have to be an accurate drawing,
but it has to stand for an observation, not
something that is abstract, like an emotion."
7. William Kentridge loves movie productions…
He thinks that,
even there’s a
flood ruining
his bedroom
environment,
he still tries his
best to preserve
the huge movie
poster on the
wall. His
bedroom is his
ideal studio for
pursuing his
camera
practices.
8. William Kentridge is curious in biological research…
He dares to use
microscope for
observing the
peculiarity of a friend’s
eyeball. But, it is just
his imagination. The
lady from the mirror
who allows William to
carry out such
biological research is
just a fantasy.
The tears drop from
the container in front
of the mirror, which
might imply that
William is sad about
his incapability in
realizing his scientific
dream
9. William Kentridge is a saint of love…
He misses his
ideal lover.
Even there’s a
flooding
disaster inside
his bedroom,
he
spontaneously
recalls the sexy
appearance of
his lover before
the moment of
his death.
10. William Kentridge is a big fan of astrology…
He is curious with the
transformations of
planets. He assumes
himself being
permanently
consolidated onto the
earth surface of an
outer planet as similar
as a deity statue to
clearly appreciate the
beauty of the starry
universe. Of course,
some tools, like
encyclopedia and
satellite installation,
are his good
companions in such
astronomical
adventure.
11. William Kentridge defends unreserved loves…
He thinks that, even an
old gentleman is found
of having an extra-
marriage sexual
relationship with a nude
lady (probably a
prostitute) and suffers
from heavy
condemnations from the
masses, it is acceptable
for preventing this
truthful couple from
being suppressed by the
secular eyesights. In
William’s mind, lust is
something
uncontrollable, and
everybody has the
ultimate right to release
his / her innermost
desires for a sexual
companion.
12. Felix in Pool with Megaphone
He thinks
that, even for
a celebrity
with
influential
political
power, he can
hardly voice
out his
opinion of
stopping the
industrial
entrepreneurs
from
polluting the
natural
environments.
13. William wants to punish the inferior politicians…
He thinks that,
water is a source of
purification. It helps
clean one’s character
from a corruptive
nature to a just
nature. What it
needs to do is just to
trap an inferior
president inside a
room and pour
water within the
interior. The rising
water level might
bring about a
drowning misery of
this president, and
he would promptly
recalls what he has
been doing wrong to
the civilians.
14. William assumes that everything is mathematical…
He divides an
episode of a
windowsill area
into spheric pies.
He can assume
the covered
horizon of a
bird’s eyeballs
and the
projection of a
microscope by
just drawing the
red lines of focal
perspectives
originated from
the observations
by these two
objects.
15. William thinks that historical figures also deserve condemnations…
He thinks that, even having a fatal illness and awaiting for the moment of death inside a
hospital bedroom, this political leader can never win sympathies from the public if he had
implemented lots of disturbing policies during his ruling term. Civilians will never forget
the mistakes of this “going-to-be-historical” politician, and they will list out all the
complaints about him throughout the history of his administration on the monitor of the
electrocardiogram machine (or “ECG machine”). Such method helps remind him to
promtly correct and purify himself, as no forgiveness can be seen from political struggles.
16. William emancipates slaves…
He thinks that,
lots of labours
suffer during the
process of rapid
industrialization.
But, witnessing
the city in
getting more
and more
ruinned, a
labour can
choose to
liberate himself
from the career
restraints by just
making himself
nude in front of
the slum scene.
17. William cannot predict what Lord does to the creatures…
He assumes
that, a drop of
a huge
meteorite
might bring
about new
forms of
human lives
within the
Earth, as the
aliens are also
the graceful
creatures by
Lord.