William Kentridge, 1955

Johannesburg-born William Kentridge received a bachelor’s degree in politics and African studies from the University of the Witwatersrand and a diploma in fine arts from the Johannesburg Art Foundation.

Kentridge initially achieved international recognition for a number of works (drawings, videos, sculptures, tapestries, prints, books) that deal with important events during the fall of apartheid as well as with universal themes viewed through the prism of life in South Africa. In addition to incorporating elements of drawing, theater and music into his works, Kentridge creates animations that pay homage to the pioneering French filmmaker and “cinemagician” Georges Méliès. Indeed, “Stereoscopic Horse” can be seen as a product of Kentridge’s admiration for Méliès, who invented so many of the cinematic tricks that we take for granted today. In “Stereoscopic Horse”, two drawings made by Kentridge are placed on opposite sides of the room. They create a composite image when viewed in a mirror that is mounted on a tripod equidistant between the two drawings.