A Natural History of the Studio

South African artist William Kentridge, one of the leading artists of our time, offers a personal insight into his work, his childhood, and his artistic techniques, and the studio spaces he has occupied throughout his life. What is of us, and what is not? Where to find our edge? This is another theme of these talks: what is me and what is the world beyond me? And particularly, what are the negotiations that happen at this border, the meeting point where the world comes towards us, and we go out to meet it? For more than three decades, South African artist William Kentridge has created a vast body of work of charcoal, pencil, and black ink drawings and multimedia installations about history and politics that have been exhibited in museums, opera and art houses, film centers, galleries, and outdoor installations worldwide. At the same time, his creative work has stretched the boundaries of the very media he employs. The six chapters of A Natural History of the Studio immerse us in the artistic, intellectual, and production processes of his outstanding body of work. They also provide philosophical, autobiographical, technical, and practical commentary and give intimate insight into the studios where he has created throughout his life—from his first workspace as a young student to his current studio in Johannesburg, where all his projects start. A Natural History of the Studio is not only a must-read for admirers of Kentridge’s work, but also a vibrant personal and philosophical exploration of the creative process and a critical look at the world and the human condition.