William Kentridge: The Nose

Museum Haus Konstruktiv is presenting the first comprehensive solo exhibition in Switzerland by South African artist William Kentridge, one of the most highly regarded artists of our time. Curated by Sabine Schaschl the exhibition focuses on the multimedia cycle of works entitled “The Nose”, which is based on the eponymous surreal short story written by Nikolai Gogol in 1836. In 2006, the Metropolitan Opera in New York commissioned William Kentridge to stage Dmitri Shostakovich's opera of the same name (first performed in 1930 in Leningrad). In this context, a series of works were produced, which can be categorized as visual art, theater and film. In addition to the large-scale video installation “I am not me, the horse is not mine”, which has previously been shown, for instance, at London's Tate Modern in 2012, Museum Haus Konstruktiv is also exhibiting a number of little-known drawings, prints, paintings, sculptures and tapestries. Kentridge himself describes this work-complex as an elegy for the artistic language of the Russian constructivists and their stimuli for social transformation. The exhibition is accompanied by a catalogue in German and English with essays by William Kentridge, Jane Taylor and Sabine Schaschl that will be published by “Verlag der Buchhandlung Walther König”. OPENING: 3 June, 6 pm Speeches: Andreas Durisch, President Foundation of Concrete, Constructive and Conceptual Art, Marcel Frei, Director ewz, and Sabine Schaschl, Director Museum Haus Konstruktiv. The artists William Kentridge and Carlos Bunga will be present. RELATED EVENTS: 4 June, 6 pm: Artist Talk Prof. Jane Taylor, University Leeds, drama studies, talks with William Kentridge. In English. Seats are limited, registration required info@hauskonstruktiv.ch 24 June, 6.30 pm: Lecture “William Kentridge: Künstlerische Individuation und Kulturdebatten in der Post-Apartheid” by Dr. des. Fiona Siegenthaler, art historian and ethnologist, University Basel. In German Museum Haus Konstruktiv Selnaustrasse 25 CH-8001 Zurich www.hauskonstruktiv.ch