Postcard – Multi-Colour William Kentridge Refugees A5

William Kentridge was born in Johannesburg, South Africa. Kentridge, who is celebrated internationally for his prints, animated films, drawings and theatre productions, continues to live and work in Johannesburg. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Politics and African Studies at the University of the Witwatersrand, together with a diploma in Fine Arts from the Johannesburg Art Foundation. As a former aspiring actor, he also studied mime and theatre at the L’Ecole the Internationale de Theatre Jacques Lecoq in Paris. He was also awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Literature at the University of the Witwatersrand (2004).

Huddled together, the boat is filled with people, oars in the water, ready to row. The artist references the complex history of travel by ship, particularly across the Mediterranean sea which divides Africa and Europe. Taking images of Roman galley ships in which slaves had to man the oars to propel the ships, and photographs from 1914 of African refugee’s sailing to Europe. The etching print highlights the ocean waters as a contested space of conflict and uncertainty.

Refugees (You Will Find No Other Seas). 2017. Aquatint etching with dry point, printed on Phumani sisal and hemp paper, mounted on raw cotton cloth and folded as a map book 170 x 243 cm.