Journal

A sporadic record of what happens in William Kentridge’s studio, in video, words and images

‘William Kentridge: Creative Machines’
A Cabinet by Noémia Herdade-Gomes and Francisco Providência

Herdade-Gomes and Providência see Kentridge’s rotating sculptures, such as ‘Construction for Waiting for the Sibyl (Tree / Typewriter)’ as a “playful trivialisation of a ‘miracle’ “ and describe “the surprising epiphany of chaos transformed into order” as the observer “experiences the pleasure of witnessing a ‘miracle’, which becomes as predictable as it is false.”

Explore the second series of ‘Creative Machines’, now live on Kentridge Studio website:
https://www.kentridge.studio/william-kentridge-creative-machines/

‘William Kentridge: Creative Machines’
A Cabinet by Noémia Herdade-Gomes and Francisco Providência

Herdade-Gomes and Providência see Kentridge’s rotating sculptures, such as ‘Construction for Waiting for the Sibyl (Tree / Typewriter)’ as a “playful trivialisation of a ‘miracle’ “ and describe “the surprising epiphany of chaos transformed into order” as the observer “experiences the pleasure of witnessing a ‘miracle’, which becomes as predictable as it is false.”

Explore the second series of ‘Creative Machines’, now live on Kentridge Studio website:
https://www.kentridge.studio/william-kentridge-creative-machines/
...

It is with great sadness that we mark the passing of Dada Masilo - a remarkable dancer and choreographer; a fiery, gentle being.  After many years of collaboration, we will miss her creativity, her playfulness and her grace. Farewell, dear Dada.

Photo: Detail from image by Stella Olivier

It is with great sadness that we mark the passing of Dada Masilo - a remarkable dancer and choreographer; a fiery, gentle being. After many years of collaboration, we will miss her creativity, her playfulness and her grace. Farewell, dear Dada.

Photo: Detail from image by Stella Olivier
...

The studio in repose

The studio in repose ...

“History on One Leg”
William Kentridge
A4 Arts Foundation, Cape Town

December 21, 2024 – April 17, 2025

A browsable selection of Kentridge’s notebooks made over the past fifteen years, shown alongside a new flipbook film, tools, materials and ephemera which focus on the process of making work in the studio.

Curators:
Josh Ginsburg
William Kentridge

Production: 
János Cserháti

Fabrication and installation:
Kyle Morland

Notebook production coordinators:
Jessica Jones
Anne McIlleron

Handpainted wall phrases:
Damon Garstang
Claire Zinn

Parcours d’atelier wall mural:
Keren Setton

Printer programmer:
Mitchell Gilbert Messina

“History on One Leg”
William Kentridge
A4 Arts Foundation, Cape Town

December 21, 2024 – April 17, 2025

A browsable selection of Kentridge’s notebooks made over the past fifteen years, shown alongside a new flipbook film, tools, materials and ephemera which focus on the process of making work in the studio.

Curators:
Josh Ginsburg
William Kentridge

Production:
János Cserháti

Fabrication and installation:
Kyle Morland

Notebook production coordinators:
Jessica Jones
Anne McIlleron

Handpainted wall phrases:
Damon Garstang
Claire Zinn

Parcours d’atelier wall mural:
Keren Setton

Printer programmer:
Mitchell Gilbert Messina
...

TONIGHT IN NEW YORK CITY

“OH TO BELIEVE IN ANOTHER WORLD”
A film by William Kentridge for Shostakovich Symphony No. 10

Wu Tsai Theater, David Geffen Hall
5 - 7 December, 2024

Performed by the New York Philharmonic
Conducted by Keri-Lynn Wilson

Part of a program which also features Shostakovich’s “Festive Overture” and concertmaster Frank Huang is the soloist in Prokofiev’s Second Violin Concerto.
The program will last approximately 2 hours, which includes an intermission.

Director
William Kentridge

Editors
Janus Fouché, Zana Marović, Joshua Trappler

Costume & Puppet Designer
Greta Goiris

Set and Model Designer
Sabine Theunissen

Cinematographer
Dǔsko Marović SASC

Video Operator
Kim Gunning

Executive Producer
THE OFFICE performing arts + film

Originally commissioned by the Luzerner Sinfonieorchester and made possible through a grant by the Art Mentor Foundation Lucerne

TONIGHT IN NEW YORK CITY

“OH TO BELIEVE IN ANOTHER WORLD”
A film by William Kentridge for Shostakovich Symphony No. 10

Wu Tsai Theater, David Geffen Hall
5 - 7 December, 2024

Performed by the New York Philharmonic
Conducted by Keri-Lynn Wilson

Part of a program which also features Shostakovich’s “Festive Overture” and concertmaster Frank Huang is the soloist in Prokofiev’s Second Violin Concerto.
The program will last approximately 2 hours, which includes an intermission.

Director
William Kentridge

Editors
Janus Fouché, Zana Marović, Joshua Trappler

Costume & Puppet Designer
Greta Goiris

Set and Model Designer
Sabine Theunissen

Cinematographer
Dǔsko Marović SASC

Video Operator
Kim Gunning

Executive Producer
THE OFFICE performing arts + film

Originally commissioned by the Luzerner Sinfonieorchester and made possible through a grant by the Art Mentor Foundation Lucerne
...

The Great Yes, The Great No
US PREMIÈRE PERFORMANCE

Adrienne Arsht Center
for the Performing Arts
Miami, Florida
December 5 to 8, 2024

US première performances of the chamber opera by William Kentridge, commissioned by LUMA Foundation, in partnership with the Festival d’Aix-en-Provence

Creative team
Concept | Director: William Kentridge
Associate Directors: Nhlanhla Mahlangu | Phala O. Phala
Choral Composer: Nhlanhla Mahlangu
Music Director: Tlale Makhene
Dramaturg: Mwenya Kabwe
Costume Design: Greta Goiris
Set Design: Sabine Theunissen
Lighting Design: Urs Schönebaum | Elena Gui
Projection Editing | Compositing: Žana Marović | Janus Fouché | Joshua Trappler
Cinematography: Duško Marović SASC
Video Control: Kim Gunning

Performed and created by
Performers: Xolisile Bongwana, Hamilton Dhlamini, William Harding, Tony Miyambo, Nancy Nkusi, Luc de Wit
Dancers : Thulani Chauke & Teresa Phuti Mojela
Chorus: Anathi Conjwa, Asanda Hanabe, Zandile Hlatshwayo, Khokho Madlala, Nokuthula Magubane, Mapule Moloi,Nomathamsanqa Ngoma
Musicians: Marika Hughes (Cello), Nathan Koci (Accordion | Banjo), Tlale Makhene (Percussion), Thandi Ntuli (Piano)

Produced by THE OFFICE performing arts + film
A project of the Centre for the Less Good Idea
Lead commissioner: LUMA Foundation, Arles, France
Co-Commissioners: Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts, Miami USA; CAL Performances, Berkeley USA; Centre d’Art Battat, Montreal, Canada.

Foundational commissioning support for the development and creation of “The Great Yes, The Great No” is provided by Brown Arts Institute at Brown University

Toured in partnership with Quaternaire

The Great Yes, The Great No
US PREMIÈRE PERFORMANCE

Adrienne Arsht Center
for the Performing Arts
Miami, Florida
December 5 to 8, 2024

US première performances of the chamber opera by William Kentridge, commissioned by LUMA Foundation, in partnership with the Festival d’Aix-en-Provence

Creative team
Concept | Director: William Kentridge
Associate Directors: Nhlanhla Mahlangu | Phala O. Phala
Choral Composer: Nhlanhla Mahlangu
Music Director: Tlale Makhene
Dramaturg: Mwenya Kabwe
Costume Design: Greta Goiris
Set Design: Sabine Theunissen
Lighting Design: Urs Schönebaum | Elena Gui
Projection Editing | Compositing: Žana Marović | Janus Fouché | Joshua Trappler
Cinematography: Duško Marović SASC
Video Control: Kim Gunning

Performed and created by
Performers: Xolisile Bongwana, Hamilton Dhlamini, William Harding, Tony Miyambo, Nancy Nkusi, Luc de Wit
Dancers : Thulani Chauke & Teresa Phuti Mojela
Chorus: Anathi Conjwa, Asanda Hanabe, Zandile Hlatshwayo, Khokho Madlala, Nokuthula Magubane, Mapule Moloi,Nomathamsanqa Ngoma
Musicians: Marika Hughes (Cello), Nathan Koci (Accordion | Banjo), Tlale Makhene (Percussion), Thandi Ntuli (Piano)

Produced by THE OFFICE performing arts + film
A project of the Centre for the Less Good Idea
Lead commissioner: LUMA Foundation, Arles, France
Co-Commissioners: Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts, Miami USA; CAL Performances, Berkeley USA; Centre d’Art Battat, Montreal, Canada.

Foundational commissioning support for the development and creation of “The Great Yes, The Great No” is provided by Brown Arts Institute at Brown University

Toured in partnership with Quaternaire
...

“While I was trying to make minimal or residual horses, I was also trying to make anti-heroic horses. Horses that would have the least right to be on monuments. I discovered this was not easy. Even the most ill-shaped, hollow-backed beasts with the most distorted neck and heads still claimed and held their space.” WK

“I am not me, the horse is not mine”
Galeria Arsenał
Białystok, Poland
Until 19 January, 2025

I am not me, the horse is not mine, 2008
Installation of 8 film fragments
6 minutes

Directing, animation, photography and performance: William Kentridge
Editing: Catherine Meyburgh
Composer: Philip Miller
Stage direction: Sue Pam-Grant
Animation assistants: Gerhard Marx, Naomi van Niekerk, Catherine Walker Galop Music
Composition: Philip Miller

“Ngilahlekelelwe Ikhala Lami”
Musical arrangement: Philip Miller
Music and lyrics: Richard Siluma and Thulani Manana Choir: Thulani Manana and Abanikazi Bomkhalanga
The Galop Band:
Dan Selsick, trombone; Billy Middleton, tuba; Adam Howard, trumpet; Ntkozo Zunga, Castrol tin-can guitar; Bethuel Mbonani, percussion; Thulani Manana, vocal leader

“While I was trying to make minimal or residual horses, I was also trying to make anti-heroic horses. Horses that would have the least right to be on monuments. I discovered this was not easy. Even the most ill-shaped, hollow-backed beasts with the most distorted neck and heads still claimed and held their space.” WK

“I am not me, the horse is not mine”
Galeria Arsenał
Białystok, Poland
Until 19 January, 2025

I am not me, the horse is not mine, 2008
Installation of 8 film fragments
6 minutes

Directing, animation, photography and performance: William Kentridge
Editing: Catherine Meyburgh
Composer: Philip Miller
Stage direction: Sue Pam-Grant
Animation assistants: Gerhard Marx, Naomi van Niekerk, Catherine Walker Galop Music
Composition: Philip Miller

“Ngilahlekelelwe Ikhala Lami”
Musical arrangement: Philip Miller
Music and lyrics: Richard Siluma and Thulani Manana Choir: Thulani Manana and Abanikazi Bomkhalanga
The Galop Band:
Dan Selsick, trombone; Billy Middleton, tuba; Adam Howard, trumpet; Ntkozo Zunga, Castrol tin-can guitar; Bethuel Mbonani, percussion; Thulani Manana, vocal leader
...

Morandi Objects

Morandi Objects ...