William Kentridge, Jockum Nordström and Kara Walker at IMMA, Dublin, 5 Nov - 4 Jan

Exhibition Description:

IMMA will be presenting a major exhibition of some 90 works in the form of shadows, shadow theatres and silhouettes by eight leading contemporary artists. The theme is inspired by the long history of shadow theatre in Turkey and Greece and comprises works that are based on folk tales or simple contemporary narratives.

These are being shown alongside films by two celebrated master filmmakers from the first half of the 20th-century. Through the work of these artists, who include William Kentridge, Jockum Nordström and Kara Walker, the exhibition explores the parallels between the traditions of shadow theatre and the new narrative spirit in contemporary art. IMMA aims to reveal the influence which this traditional art form has had on the world of contemporary art in recent years.

The exhibition brings together key works by Haluk Akakçe, Nathalie Djurberg, William Kentridge, Katariina Lillqvist, Jockum Nordström, Christiana Soulou, Andrew Vickery and Kara Walker, selected for their specific affinities with that world. Their works include the diverse media of model theatres, drawings, wall installations, films, photographs, texts and manuscripts relating to shadow theatre.

Distinguished South African artist William Kentridge will present key works, among them his free-standing theatre and preparatory drawing for Preparing for the Flute, an abridged version of Mozart’s Magic Flute. Contemporary artist Katariina Lillquist will present two films, The Country Doctor and the Maiden and the Soldier, and the puppets and props she handcrafted for the films. Both owe much to the practice of the Polish theatre director and artist Tadeusz Kantor; also an acknowledged influence on the work of William Kentridge.

The show will also feature drawings, silhouette installations, videos and paintings by the renowned African American artist Kara Walker. Much of Walker’s work is closely related to the original traditions and techniques of shadow theatre, which she employs in her video animations and in real shadow plays in an effort to explore issues of race, gender and sexuality, as in …calling to me from the angry surface of some grey and threatening sea. I was transported, 2007. For the first time a 2004 collaborative video by Walker and William Kentridge will be shown.

Description:

Image: Kara Walker, untitled watercolor from the series Negress Notes (Series II), 1996, watercolor on paper, set of 18: 23 x 15.5 cm each, courtesy of CAP Collection

Full Contact Details:

Irish Museum of Modern Art
Royal Hospital
Military Road
Kilmainham
Dublin 8
Ireland