Artist research: William Kentridge

William Kentridge is best known for his unique animations. Kentridge uses only one sheet of paper to draw on to create his animation. He simply draws, takes a picture, erases, draws some more, takes another picture, and so on.

Kentridge was born in Johannesburg, South Africa in 1955. Much of his artwork has to do with politics or suffering. He is by far the best known South African artist, with much popular demand for his work. In 1976, he earned a B.A. in politics and African studies from the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg. Today he still works from Johannesburg creating more animations which are now more personal and almost autobiographical. He created two characters, Soho Eckstein and Felix Teitlebaum, to better portray the political and social struggle of many South Africans of the time.

I chose William Kentridge because I am using a process very similar to his. For my independent project, I am using photoshop to create an animation, all using one piece of paper. Only, I am using a computer screen, not paper. But I am also drawing, saving, erasing, and drawing some more to create my animation. It is a very tidius yet relaxing process and I am enjoying it so far.