Kunsthalle Mannheim
)Hector-Bau > Ebene 2 > Kubus 9
Intro
William Kentridge’s 5-channel video installation presents itself as a half-hour meditation on complex themes such as space and time, colonialism and capitalism. A type of respiratory machine in the center of the room—named “elephant” by Kentridge—casts its shadow on the surrounding walls. With its pumping movements it is reminiscent of the first steam-driven machines of the industrial era.
Metronome beats and music from horn megaphones acoustically structure the film’s experimental narrative composed of alternating sequences from feature films and animated charcoal drawings. Kentridge makes explicit reference to modern scientific findings on the relativity of time by Albert Einstein and Henri Poincaré, as well as to current research from the Harvard physicist Peter Galison, augmenting them with his own artistic interpretation.
Accordingly, measuring devices such as clocks and metronomes, maps, or even time bombs appear in the picture stories gliding across the walls. With his interpretation of existence, temporality, and energy, the artist shows how complex historical media spheres, and even political contexts influenced by them, can be critically visualized.
On loan from the Kunsthalle Mannheim Foundation since 2014; acquired with kind support of the Friends of the Kunsthalle Mannheim e.V.
Transkription
Now, where have we ended up? It’s dark in here. On the walls, animated charcoal drawings alternate with movie scenes. Are those people using a spinning wheel? Using a plow? They seem to be working. But we can’t really see that. Also, these scenes are obscured by the shade cast from the wooden structure in the middle of the room.
What, exactly is this? That box made of latticework, right in the middle of the room, keeps plodding along. We are reminded of a respirator. With its pumping motions this might as well be a steam engine from the dawn of the industrial age. Artist William Kentridge calls it the »Elephant«. The machine sits in the center.
At least it does in a spatial sense. The topical center of the 5-channel video installation is taken up by far more complex issues. Colonialism and Capitalism. Space and Time. Kentridge meditates upon all these here. And he wants to encourage us, as viewers, to do the same.
In this way, the artist explicitly refers to Albert Einstein’s theory of relativity. Or to the scientific research of Harvard physicist Peter Galison. He takes up their findings and adds his artistic interpretation to form an experimental oeuvre.
Consequently, the images on the walls show various measuring devices such as clocks and metronomes. People, maps and time bombs also appear. These images narrate their own stories. They urge us to think about existence, temporality and power. And now please take off your headphones – since only the combination of the atmosphere created by the images and soundscape will turn this installation into a great art experience.