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Closed: Reopening May 2025

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A group of protesters yell and hold up sticks hand drawn with charcoal in black and white

William Kentridge: Drawn from Africa

When

This exhibition has now ended.

Location

The Potter Museum of Art, Cnr of Swanston St and Masson Rd, Parkville

Celebrated South African artist William Kentridge works in a variety of media such as film, drawing and printmaking to create work inspired by some of the most topical subjects in South African society and politics. This exhibition revealed the breadth of the National Gallery of Australia’s holdings of Kentridge's works on paper to the Australian public.

Curated by Dr Jane Kinsman.

About the artist

Kentridge was born in 1955 in Johannesburg. From the 1950s, his parents both supported South Africa’s anti-apartheid activists. Their activism against injustice played an important role in his development and informed his work as a figurative artist. In this context, Kentridge considered abstract art and conceptual art "an impossible activity" in South Africa.

Kentridge addresses political subjects with a remarkable lightness of touch, a subtlety that is enhanced by juxtaposition, metaphor, irony and a sense of the absurd. The medium of charcoal drawing, which he uses in his unique filmmaking practice, enables Kentridge to add and subtract from compositions and to explore his subjects without finality. Through drawing, Kentridge is able to remodel, dismantle or dissolve his subjects as he develops his imagery over time.

A large billboard reads Healing to all in Global in a hand drawn paddock

William Kentridge (born 1955), Drawing for the Film Other Faces (Healing to All in Global) 2011, drawing. National Gallery of Australia, Canberra. The Poynton Bequest 2012.

A drawing of an old radio sitting in water

William Kentridge (born 1955), Bakelite Radio 1994, drawing. National Gallery of Australia, Canberra. The Poynton Bequest 2013.

A rhinoceros sitting with red lines pointing to key points drawn with charcoal

William Kentridge (born 1955), Drawing for The Magic Flute (Tamino's Rhinoceros) 2004, charcoal, graphite. National Gallery of Australia, Canberra. The Poynton Bequest 2013.

A print made from a black and white drawing of a small island of reeds surrounded by water

William Kentridge (born 1955), Reeds 1996, intaglio. National Gallery of Australia, Canberra. The Poynton Bequest 2013.

A black and white print showing two figures, the one in the centre of the image is dressed in a suit, has arms folded at the chest and their face is obscured by three overlapping tablets, each displaying letters 'XA'

William Kentridge (born 1955), XA XA XA 2010, relief. National Gallery of Australia, Canberra. The Poynton Bequest 2013.

A black and white print of figure of a person with shoulders and head replaced by a tree

William Kentridge (born 1955), Walking Man 2000, linocut. National Gallery of Australia, Canberra. The Poynton Bequest 2013.

A print featuring a silhouette of a person surround by floating black shapes

William Kentridge (born 1955), From the Bird Catching Set 2006, intaglio. National Gallery of Australia, Canberra. The Poynton Bequest 2013.

  1. Banner Image: William Kentridge, Drawing for the film Other Faces (Protestors), 2011