KunstKino: Self-Portrait as a Coffee-Pot (ENG)

As part of the accompanying programme to the exhibition William Kentridge: The Battle Between YES and NO, visitors will watch a selection from the original series Self-Portrait as a Coffee-Pot by South African artist William Kentridge.

The work presents a distinctive and playful introspection in which everyday objects become carriers of identity, memory, and doubt. The series of several standalone yet interconnected episodes was created in Kentridge’s studio in Johannesburg during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020–2022 and is partly inspired by Charlie Chaplin, Dziga Vertov, and humorous early cinema. Here, Kentridge enters the image not only as the author but also as a character. His drawn and performative alter ego intertwines with the motif of the coffee pot, which transforms into an absurd yet surprisingly accurate self-portrait. The minimalist animation, typical of Kentridge’s work, functions here as a visual diary. The result is a work that invites viewers into a quiet yet intense dialogue about who they are, how they see themselves, and how they are constantly changing. Commentary on the series and William Kentridge’s film work will be introduced by art and film critic and publicist Matěj Forejt.

Self-Portrait as a Coffee-Pot / South Africa, USA, 2024 / 3 × 30 min. / Directed by: William Kentridge / Language: English / Subtitles: English