Self-Portrait as a Coffee Pot
Overview
Pioneering artist William Kentridge offers a unique glimpse into his artistic journey during the COVID pandemic. Through a series of interconnected episodes, he delves into themes of culture, history, and politics, all while revealing the deeper truths unearthed through his art-making. Viewers are invited into his studio, where the creative process becomes a canvas for exploration and reflection, highlighting the intersection of personal experience and broader societal issues in a time of global crisis.
Episodes
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1
A Natural History of the Studio
Kentridge invites audiences into his Johannesburg studio, envisioning it as a giant head where various conversations unfold between him and his alter ...
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2
Self-Portrait as a Coffee-Pot
Kentridge delves into the creation of a self-portrait as a path to understanding himself better. He invites dancer Dada Masilo into his studio and tri...
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3
Vanishing Points
Kentridge explores the relationship between memory and location by creating a fictional colonial landscape that echoes his childhood experiences. Mean...
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4
Finding One’s Fate
Kentridge ponders a childhood tale in which Perseus inadvertently causes his grandfather's death, leading him to reflect on the nature of fate. He del...
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5
As If
Kentridge creates sweeping black brushstrokes that come together to form the outline of a horse when viewed from a certain angle. He engages in a disc...
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6
Harvest of Devotion
In a revival of past performances, Kentridge recites a phonetic poem alongside Hamilton Dlamini, Mncedisi Shabangu, Nhlanhla Mahlangu, and Mica Mangan...
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7
The Moment Has Gone
Kentridge contemplates the flow of time and the transient quality of experiences, blending music and animation to express the delicate nature of memor...
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8
The Head & The Load
Inspired by his performance art of the same title, Kentridge delves into the intricate histories of African porters from World War I. He weaves togeth...
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9
The Procession
In the final episode, Kentridge and his team step out of the studio, accompanied by a lively marching band. This moment signifies their reentry into t...
