William Kentridge's new space lets creatives tap into collaborative art-making

17 July 2017 3:34 PM

World-famous South African artist William Kentridge says collaborating with other artists and creatives brings a unique energy and generative force.

Kentridge established the Centre for the Less Good Idea, an interdisciplinary incubator space where it is okay to fail.

Various artists and creatives come together for two seasons every year to experiment, collaborate and push their less good idea to another level.

Kentridge explains that the centre is aimed at helping established artists make connections and discoveries while working with others.

The less good ideas are vital; the things that emerge at the edge of the grand ideas.
— William Kentridge

Peripheral thinking and peripheral vision are very important ways of understanding the world and for using as an artist.
— William Kentridge

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He says the 'magical moments' happen during improvisation during the workshop collaborations.

There are moments when a singer and a dancer and video projection suddenly come together. And the accumulative effect is much stronger than you could imagine.
— William Kentridge

The centre, based in Maboneng in Johannesburg, sees 60 artists come together and experiment with performance, text, image, dance and more.

Bronwen Lace runs the centre and says it has allowed audiences to gain added respect for the raw idea process.

We are building an empathy for the process of art-making... Our audiences were incredible and receptive.
— Bronwen Lace, Centre for the Less Good Idea

Kentridge and Lace spoke about the birth of the centre and the success of its first season.

Visit the Less Good Idea website to learn more.

Take a listen to the inspiring discussion:

This article first appeared on CapeTalk : William Kentridge's new space lets creatives tap into collaborative art-making

Written by: Qama Qukula