The Yorkshire Sculpture Park has opened "William Kentridge: The Power of Gravity," the first major survey of the South African artist's sculptural work outside his home country. The exhibition spans multiple decades and includes large-scale film installations, about three dozen sculptures, and four of his largest bronzes to date. It features pieces like the "Singer Trio" (2019) and works from his film series "Self-Portrait as a Coffee-Pot" (2023), with exhibition design by his long-term collaborator Sabine Theunissen.
The show matters because it formally recognizes Kentridge as a sculptor—a title he was initially reluctant to claim—and highlights how his practice has long involved transforming everyday objects into art through what he calls "applied sculpture." By bringing together his 3D works alongside his renowned film and performance pieces, the exhibition reveals the central role of transformation and material experimentation in Kentridge's broader artistic output, offering audiences a deeper understanding of his creative process.