William Kentridge’s phantasmagoric investigation of time, Refuse the Hour, comes to BAM on October 22. Context is everything, so get even closer to the production with this curated selection of articles and videos related to the show. After you've attended the show, let us know what you thought below and by posting on social media using #WilliamKentridge.
Dada Masilo and William Kentridge. Photo: John Hodges
By Susan Yung
Refuse the Hour, like artist William Kentridge’s production of The Magic Flute (2007 Winter/Spring), can be referred to as opera, but it sits restlessly within one genre. This multilayered performance by Kentridge is a collaboration with composer Philip Miller, choreographer Dada Masilo, video artist Catherine Meyburgh, and dramaturg Peter Galison. Unpacking the layered, engaging work (October 22—25, Harvey Theater)—in which a running monologue by Kentridge alternates with sections of music, song, dance, and film—is a rewarding experience.
For the past eight years, over 700 artists have donated works to be auctioned off in the BAMart Silent Auction to support BAM. These generous artists of various ages come from all places and work in many media; many are from right here in Brooklyn and have longstanding connections to BAM. This year over 100 more artists have joined us for this great cause and fun event, and you still have the chance to bid! But don’t wait, bidding ends Sunday, April 22, at 6pm EST!
This year our auction partner, Paddle8, created editorial content that delved deeply into our archives to highlight artists who have appeared on BAM stages and whose work currently can be bid on in the silent auction. These include Andy Warhol, whose Silver Clouds appeared on stage with the Merce Cunningham Dance Company’s RainForest, South African William Kentridge, whose Magic Flute had its US premiere at BAM in 2007, and Matthew Ritchie whose work appeared along side Bryce and Aaron Dessner of the National and Kim and Kelley Deal of the Breeders in The Long Count (2009). These incredible works by well-known and highly collectable artists are valued at well over $10,000 each, so we thought we’d highlight some more affordable alternatives by artists who call the borough of Brooklyn home.
Laleh Khorramian, the empty stage of sophie and goya , 2005
Check out the ink drawings by Laleh Khorramian if you prefer the bold, gestural work of an artist like William Kentridge. Born in Tehran, Khorramian lives and works in Brooklyn, and like Kentridge, uses drawing and animation as a part of her practice. In this small, beautiful work, titled the empty stage of sophie and goya, we look out into the balconies of a theater, a common theme in her work, and something very fitting for an auction taking place in the lobby outside BAM’s Howard Gilman Opera House.
Leif Ritchey, Sundance, 2011
If Matthew Ritchie is more your style, why not check out Leif Ritchey. With similar names, but no relation, and similar palettes in both these works—lush yellows with touches of blue—you can see Ritchey’s work in the group show New Traditionalists at Chelsea’s Martos Gallery alongside the wonderful B. Wurtz.
