András Szántó, a Hungarian writer who lives in New York, spoke with William Kentridge in the museum?s Renaissance hall, which was filled with visitors.
In an introduction before the discussion, host Nóra Winkler said Kentridge?s first visit to Hungary had much to do with the work of György Kovásznai, a Hungarian artist well known in the 1970s whose work bears a striking similarity to Kentridge?s.
Kentridge said he saw the same inner need and urge in Kovásznai?s art films as in his own inspiration.
Kentridge is spending four days in Budapest to learn about the local art scene, visiting galleries and meeting with Hungarian artists.
Museum of Fine Arts director László Baán called the visit a ?Kentridge festival?. He also pointed out the similar vision Kentridge shared with Kovásznai.
?The dictatorships ended in both artists? countries, but both of their oeuvres still remained valid,? he said.
?In his works Kentridge presents the subjective perspective, doubts and emotional responses he gives to personal experiences projected onto public affairs that the media otherwise reduces to a far more simplified format,? the Museum of Fine Arts says of the artist. ?One of the unique traits of William Kentridge is his genius in transmuting drastic political events into profound poetic allegories by using film, drawing, sculpture, animation and performance with naturalness and invention.?
Kentridge?s video installation ?I am not me, the horse is not mine? can be seen at the Museum of Fine arts from September 20 until October 16, 2011.
Performances of an adaptation by Kentbridge of Woyzeck by the Handspring Puppet Company will take place at Budapest?s Trafó House of Contemporary Arts on October 7-8.
Source: Hungarian News Agency (MTI)
