THE REFUSAL OF TIME

WILLIAM KENTRIDGEIn collaboration with Philip Miller, Catherine Meyburgh, Peter Galison and Dada MasiloIZIKO SOUTH AFRICAN NATIONAL GALLERY | 20 FEBRUARY TO 21 JUNE

WILLIAM KENTRIDGE IN CAPE TOWN

WILLIAM KENTRIDGETHE REFUSAL OF TIME A collaboration with Philip Miller, Catherine Meyburgh, Dada Masilo and Peter Galison IzIko South AfrIcAn nAtIonAl GAllery In ASSocIAtIon wIth GoodmAn GAllery opening 26 february at 18h00 closes 21 June 2015

REFUSE THE HOUR A collaboration with Philip Miller, Catherine Meyburgh, Dada Masilo and Peter Galison PreSented by deSIGn IndAbA At cAPe town cIty hAll 26, 27 february at 20h00

PERIPHERAL THINKING A lecture and performance by William Kentridge deSIGn IndAbA, cAPe town InternAtIonAl conventIon centre 27 february at 15h00

THE SOHO CHRONICLES Film Series and Book Launch 10 drawings for Projection the Soho chronicles 10 films by william kentridge, written by matthew kentridge, Published by Seagull books PreSented by GoodmAn GAllery At the lAbIA theAtre 28 february at 10h00

Understanding, hoping, believing, not out of conviction, but from physical experience, that from the physical making, from the very imperfections of technique – our bad backward walking – parts of the world, and parts of us, are revealed, that we neither expressed nor knew, until we saw them – when we realised we always did know them. Through the spaces opened by the stupidities themselves – the randomly torn pages, the line and the parabola – we enact, and see, and celebrate our construction of our world. This is how I make a horse. This is how I make a face. This is how I see. This is the space of the work in the studio.

Extract taken from William Kentridge Six Drawing Lessons, p128

When I come back to South Africa I always stay with William, and my view of the country is partly refracted through his own work – the landscapes on pages from old mining company ledgers which act as a bridge between the world of the randlords and today’s guerilla mining operations; the xenophobia that runs like an evil seam through the film Other Faces – but also by the access he provides to a peculiarly South African energy. This is a country of creativity and invention, marked by the opening up of new spaces, by renovation and reinvention, the retrieval of lost voices and stories, and the inclusion of the marginalided. This outpouring of artistic vigour is increasingly recognised internationally as more and more South African writers and singers, artists, actors and dancers step out on the world stage. So, coming back to South Africa with The Soho Chronicles fills me with a particular pride and sense of belonging.

WILLIAM KENTRIDGETHE REFUSAL OF TIMEThe Refusal of Time at the Iziko South African National Gallery is a collaboration with composer Philip Miller, projection designer and editor Catherine Meyburgh, choreographer and dancer Dada Masilo Peter Galison, a scientist from the United States and machine-makers, costume designers and set designers from many parts of the world. The project was made in a series of workshops over two years. It started as a series of conversations between Kentridge and Galison, looking at different theories of time from Newtown through to Einstein and black holes; in each case finding the metaphor for the science rather than trying to illustrate it. In the end the piece deals with the transformation of time into material objects, sound, images and mechanics. It consists of five video projections, a multi-dimensional soundscape created by Philip Miller, four megaphones and a large breathing machine. It has a running cycle of 30 minutes.

WILLIAM KENTRIDGEREFUSE THE HOURThe chamber opera makes its South African debut as part of the Design Indaba Festival. The Cape Town City Hall auditorium will become the backdrop to the local premiere of William Kentridge’s multimedia performance Refuse The Hour. Described as “an aesthetic and philosophical stage dream” this engrossing performance allows the viewer to experience Kentridge’s art, thinking and process in a singular, evocative way. He interweaves an astonishing range of visual and aural languages into an engrossing 80-minute performance with a discourse from the artist himself at its centre. The chamber opera is a multi-layered experience that includes dance, performed and choreo-graphed by Dada Masilo, an original score by Philip Miller, video by Catherine Meyburgh, mechanical sculptures, vocal performance and narration.

WILLIAM KENTRIDGEPERIPHERAL THINKING

In a lecture which segues into performance, William Kentridge tries to track down the thoughts and images which hover at the edge of consciousness whilst we direct our attention to central projects of thinking, making and doing. The lecture will include projections and live performance by singers and musicians.

WILLIAM KENTRIDGETHE SOHO CHRONICLESWilliam Kentridge is widely known for his series of 10 animated films titled 10 Drawings for Projection, drawn over a period of 22 years between 1989 and 2011, and for the most part set in his home city of Johannesburg. The timeline of the films covers South Africa’s transition from apartheid to democracy. But the films are not about political events. Instead the saga traces a different and parallel arc – the character Soho’s gradual awakening from capitalist blockhead and cuckold to sober penitent – and it is this human quality that gives the films their power and enduring appeal. Matthew Kentridge, author of The Soho Chronicles: 10 Films by William Kentridge, has witnessed, from first beginnings, the evolution of William Kentridge’s technique, themes and ideas. From his unique vantage point, he has watched the transformation of Soho from an individualistic megalomaniac into a kind-of late-twentieth-century Everyman. The book, to be launched is his response. A book signing by William Kentridge will be hosted by Design Indaba to mark his appearance at this important event.

FILM SERIES & BOOK LAUNCH

Photo credIt: mArc Shoul

A LECTURE & PERFORMANCE

Matthew Kentridge, author of The Soho Chronicles: 10 Films by William Kentridge

10 drawings for Projection and the Soho chronicles:

10 films by william kentridge, written by

matthew kentridge

GOODMAN GALLERY CAPE TOWNGAllery hourS: tueS-frI 09h30-17h30 | SAt: 10h00-16h00 3rd floor fAIrweAther houSe, 176 SIr lowry rd, woodStockP +27 (0)21 462 7573/4 cpt@goodman-gallery.com | www.goodman-gallery.com

GOODMAN GALLERY CAPE TOWNGAllery hourS: tueS-frI 09h30-17h30 | SAt: 10h00-16h00 3rd floor fAIrweAther houSe, 176 SIr lowry rd, woodStockP +27 (0)21 462 7573/4 cpt@goodman-gallery.com | www.goodman-gallery.com