The Narrative Drawings by William Kentridge

Lee Kwun Leung Vincent

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

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/

William Kentridge’s art styleCharcoal / Pastel Drawing on Paper (Monochrome, but

reserve some parts being described in blue)As similar as the movie episodesWith the humorous features of caricature arts from the

newspapersExpressionistic brushstrokes + Exaggerative motionsFeels 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

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."

Appreciation of William Kentridge’s works

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

Felix in Pool with MegaphoneHe 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH