William Kentridge Honorary Doctor 2026

William Kentridge is a South African artist and a pioneer in multimedia art. His work brings together drawing, animation, film, theatre, opera, music, and performance, often exploring themes of creativity, time, uncertainty, and his personal and political experiences of apartheid-era South Africa. Kentridge is also the founder of The Centre for the Less Good Idea in Johannesburg, an interdisciplinary platform for critical pedagogy and experimental learning.

Preparations

Students and staff are invited to participate in preparations of welcoming William Kentridge in a series of lectures and workshops taking place throughout September. Lectures on his artistry will be followed by workshops in various materials, techniques and expressions.

• Wednesday 9th of September, at 16h15, Stora hörsalen
• Wednesday 16th of September, at 16h15, Stora hörsalen
• Tuesday 22nd of September, at 16h15, Glashuset
• Tuesday 29th of September, at 16h15, Stora hörsalen

Film screening: William Kentridge

October 8, 18:00

Welcome to a screening featuring a selection of works by the Artistic Faculty’s honorary doctor William Kentridge at Bio Valand.

Ahead of honorary doctor William Kentridge’s visit to Gothenburg in October for the doctoral degree conferment ceremony, a selection of his films will be screened at Bio Valand. The screening will take place on 8 October, approximately 18:00–20:00, and is open to all staff at the Artistic Faculty.

Please register for the film screening by emailing susanne.jansson@gu.se. Before the screening, there will be a reception outside Bio Valand starting at 17:15. Registration will help us plan for the number of participants and, if needed, arrange screenings in additional theatres.

"Self-portrait as a coffee-pot" (episode 2, 6 and 7) by William Kentridge

Self-Portrait as a Coffee Pot is a nine episode series created and directed by South African artist William Kentridge. In each episode, two versions of Kentridge discuss and argue a philosophical concern and demonstrate the creation of artworks. It was created over the course of two years during the COVID-19 lockdowns in 2020.

We will screen episode 2 (35 min), episode 6 (33 min) och episode 7 (27 min).

Episode 2: Self portrait as a coffee pot. William Kentridge explores the making of a self-portrait as a way of coming to know oneself. He also welcomes the dancer Dada Masilo into his studio. As Kentridge attempts to draw his own figure with a brush attached to the tip of a long stick, his double watches the imperfect outcome from afar.

Episode 6: Harvest of devotion. William Kentridge recreates rehearsals for previous performance pieces. He reads a phonetic poem with performers Hamilton Dlamini, Mncedisi Shabangu, Nhlanhla Mahlangu and Mica Manganye. In contrast, they read John Chilembwe’s 1915 letter to the Nyasaland Times, arguing for equal standing in Malawi.

Episode 7: Metamorphosis. As William Kentridge explores metamorphosis, sounds are visualized through painting, a shadow turns into a sculpture, time morphs into a film strip, and an abstract blotch becomes an image. Meanwhile, the performers Joanna Dudley and Ann Masina act out a myth from Ovid’s Metamorphoses.

See the trailer at: 

https://mubi.com/en/se/series/self-portrait-as-a-coffee-pot

William Kentridge’s days in Gothenburg

Wednesday 21st of October, at 16h30 
Artistic talk by Kentridge in Gothenburg City Theatre – The Foyer (information of tickets will come)

Thursday 22nd of October, 9h00–12h00 
Kentridge visits the Artistic Faculty with start in Baulan. In the form of a ”Walkshop”, we will have the opportunity to experimentally present our various departments and programs through what we create and design, instead of verbally told. The morning continues with a procession along the Avenyn and ends up at Konstnärliga with a conversation between William Kentridge and Jyoti Mistry, professor in Film. 

You are warmly welcome to be part as a participant or as an audience member!