William Kentridge, Invisible Mending (still), from 7 Fragments for Georges Méliès, Journey to the Moon, and Day for Night, 2003; Collection of the artist; © 2008 William Kentridge; photo: John Hodgkiss, courtesy the William Kentridge Studio
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William Kentridge was born in Joahannesburg, South Africa on April 28th, 1955. Kentridge was artistically trained at the University of the Witwatersrand receiving a degree in Politics and African Studies, later a degree in Fine Arts from the Johannesburg Art Foundation, and even studied mime and theater in Paris, France at the L’ecole Internationale de Theatre Jacques Lecoq (Art21). His early inspiration came from his parents, two lawyers, both opponents of the South African apartheid regime. Many of these political and social issues that his parents introduced to him remain important, and can be seen in his work to this day. "Kentridge brings the ambiguity and subtlety of personal experience to public subjects that are most often framed in narrowly defined terms," to his various drawings, sculptures, and animated stop-action short films (Art21). In regards to his drawings and animations, "his building up and breaking down of the surface and his methodical rearrangement of elements are clearly visible," and distinct to Kentridge's artistic style (Broderick: 49). "This intense physicality mirrors the intensity of the content," having begun his work as an artist on the precipice of the dissolution of apartheid (Broderick: 49). Kentridge works often have an incredibly strong political message and ask the viewer to consider the steps that were necessary in this achievement rather than allowing them to be erased from South Africa's collective societal memory. Sources: 1. Art21. Art21. 2009. 20 4 2015 <http://www.pbs.org/art21/artists/william-kentridge>. 2. Broderick, Amy S. "Learning from Five Themes: An Interview with William Kentridge." Southeastern College Art Conference Review 16.1 (2011): 49. |