Postcard – Multi-Colour William Kentridge Untitled Colonial Landscapes 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).

Reflecting on the history of landscape art in South Africa, the artist draws an idyllic black and white landscape made in the image of Africa’s iconic waterfalls like the Blue Nile Falls and the Victoria Falls. Using red lines and circles as a measuring tool, Kentridge marks the areas of impact and memory to disrupt the picturesque view. In this way, Kentridge allows us to see the effect of the colonial project on the landscape, even when the landscape hides its history.

Untitled (From Colonial Landscapes series). 1995-96. Charcoal and pastel on paper 120 x 160 cm.