As the days get colder, there is more and more incentive to spend time exploring London’s world-renowned art trail. And this autumn, the Royal Academy of Arts is showing a remarkable exhibition by one of South Africa’s most celebrated artists, William Kentridge.
Throughout a multi-sensory journey made up of an ambitious variety of media, visitors will gain access to a fascinating perspective on the politics and history of South Africa from the 1980s to today.
This will be the biggest exhibition of Kentridge’s work in the UK, and the scale and impact of the pieces featured are testament to this. Make your way through a series of rooms and admire four-metre wide tapestries, electrifying animations, bold installations and Kentridge’s signature charcoal drawings.
The subject matter might be heavy – but Kentridge’s work is skilfully and subtly laced with humour and satire. Across a series of multi-screen films, his static drawings are adapted to create captivating moving animations. Watch a typewriter transform into a tree, a rhino somersault with a megaphone and a gun-toting soldier perform ballet.
Visitors can even watch an entertaining short film during which Kentridge conducts an interview on himself, poking fun at his nonsensical thought processes. The experience is theatrical, thought-provoking and totally unforgettable.
In case you didn’t know, anyone aged 25 or under can access half price tickets to all RA exhibitions through the fantastic 25 & Under scheme. Yep – we know it sounds too good to be true!
And whilst William Kentridge’s exhibition might be the main event of your upcoming Royal Academy outing – why not make a day of it and enjoy the surroundings of the beautiful Burlington House courtyard?
Within the building’s vicinity you will also find an impressive gift shop, brimming with books, jewellery, prints, posters and more. Not to mention a laid-back Spanish restaurant and bar, by highly acclaimed chef, José Pizarro. Here you can enjoy irresistible, flavour-packed small plates or an afternoon drink before immersing yourself in the RA’s rooms filled with gorgeous art.