William Kentridge
South African artist known for hand-drawn charcoal animations made by erasing and redrawing a single sheet, filmed frame by frame.
Veronica's Take
William Kentridge, the South African artist who has spent decades mastering a hauntingly unique animation technique, crafts his films by erasing and redrawing a single sheet of charcoal, leaving the traces of previous iterations visible in each frame. This meticulous process, where the drawing itself seems to carry the memory of its own history, has earned him international acclaim for its powerful exploration of memory and transformation. Born in 1955, Kentridge's work stands out in the art world, blending the tactile intensity of traditional drawing with the narrative depth of film in a way that feels both deeply rooted and startlingly fresh.
He animates by smudging and redrawing one charcoal sheet over and over, letting the ghosts of erased lines linger so the drawing itself remembers history.
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The people behind William Kentridge
William Kentridge
profileDrawing / Animation
South African artist known for hand-drawn charcoal animations made by erasing and redrawing a single sheet, filmed frame by frame.
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