Felix in Exile

Object Details

William Kentridge, born 1955, South Africa

Label Text

Since 1989 William Kentridge has been making short animated films using charcoal drawings that act as film stills which are photographed by the videocamera and then altered by the artist in minute ways to move the story forward. Several hundred distinct drawings may be needed for each narrative element, but as few as 20 might remain at the end of filming. The film shorts explore themes of love and betrayal, oppression and violence, death and regeneration and use obtuse and direct references to the socio-political climate of apartheid to tell their stories, which are set in Johannesburg.

Description

Animated film on videotape composed of charcoal drawings that act as film stills. This film, "Felix in Exile," is 9 minutes long. It is one of six owned by the museum that is part of a collection of 9 films known as "Drawings and Projections." Each are considered by the artist to be individual films.

It is one of six owned by the museum that is part of a collection of 9 films known as "Drawings and Projections." Each are considered by the artist to be individual films.

Exhibition History

Currents: Water in African Art, National Museum of African Art, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C., June 2016-ongoing

William Kentridge: Ambivalent Affinities, Krannert Art Museum, Champaign, Illinois, January 29-May 23, 2010; Massachusetts College of Art and Design, Boston, October 7-December 11, 2010

Illuminations: Contemporary Film and Video Art, Ackland Art Museum, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, June 25-October 8, 2001

Content Statement

As part of our commitment to accessibility and transparency, the Smithsonian National Museum of African Art is placing its collection records online. Please note that some records are incomplete (missing image or content descriptions) and others reflect out-of-date language or systems of thought regarding how to engage with and discuss cultural heritage and the specifics of individual artworks. If you see content requiring immediate action, we will do our best to address it in a timely manner. Please email nmafacuratorial@si.edu if you have any questions.

Image Requests

High resolution digital images are not available for some objects. For publication quality photography and permissions, please contact the Eliot Elisofon Photographic Archives at https://africa.si.edu/research/eliot-elisofon-photographic-archives/

Credit Line

Museum purchase

1993

Object number

96-34-5

Restrictions & Rights

Usage conditions apply

Copyright

© 1989 WJ Kentridge

Type

Time Based Media

Medium

Animated film recorded on videotape

Dimensions

Duration: 9 minutes

Geography

Johannesburg, South Africa

See more items in

National Museum of African Art Collection

National Museum of African Art

Topic

male

Record ID

nmafa_96-34-5

Metadata Usage (text)

Usage conditions apply

GUID (Link to Original Record)

http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ys73dcb7ba8-95b1-4558-9f9f-655d9f1db620