Amorim Honoured to be a Part of Historical South African Art Event

William Kentridge, South Africa’s most important living artist, is currently having the most comprehensive exhibition of his work to date shown at Zeitz MOCAA, South Africa’s leading arts centre under the title Why Should I Hesitate: Putting Drawings To Work.

The visitor to this absolutely stunning showing of works Kentridge has created from 1976 to 2019 is overwhelmed by the drawings, objects, sounds and videos exhibited over three floors of the museum. And while one’s visual and auditory senses are stimulated by the sights and sounds of Kentridge’s creative mind, the scent of cork is evident throughout the space.

Some 1 200m² of compacted cork insulation, sourced from Amorim South Africa, is being used in the exhibition space, mainly for insulating the areas being used for Kentridge’s energetic video work incorporating jazz, voices and various dramatic sounds. In some areas, the cork material serves a dual purpose, also being used as a background for some of the artist’s breath-taking drawings as well as absorbing the sound.

William Kentridge
(Picture: William Kentridge Studios and Goodman Gallery)

During a visit to Zeitz MOCAA, situated in Cape Town’s Waterfront, Amorim South Africa MD Joaquim Sá says he is in awe.

“As a resident of Cape Town I am aware of the magnificent Zeitz MOCAA space which has truly cemented the city’s status as an international arts capital since opening two years ago,” he says. “But to be here and to be exposed to this sensory onslaught by the genius of William Kentridge in an exhibition covering over four decades of his phenomenal artistic output is almost overwhelming.”

Sá says that he and his team had worked closely with Zeitz MOCAA contractors responsible for preparing the museum for this installation. “We had various preparatory meetings to discuss samples of Amorim cork product and the properties of cork that could enhance the logistical requirements of the exhibition. Visiting the finished exhibition it is especially pleasing to see how the bare cork installation-walls complement the space, giving it a warm, dark and natural look while also playing a role as sound insulation.”

Amorim’s involvement with great arts and architectural venues around the world is not new. It has supplied cork material for, among other, the Serpentine Gallery in London and Gaudi’s Sagrada Familia in Barcelona.

Joaquim Sá with some of Kentridge’s works.

The Kentridge exhibition, which will be shown until 23 March 2020, is attracting thousands of local and international visitors with its collection of drawing, stop-frame animation, video, prints, sculpture, tapestry, video and large-scale installation. The title – Why Should I Hesitate: Putting Drawings To Work – references Kentridge’s primary practice of drawing and how this core activity informs and enables his studio practice. It also references the impact of individual action on history and the reverse – how history shapes the contemporary and the future – and works as a commentary on various shifting hegemonies of power politics, economics, language and the authority to narrate history.

Sá says that for him to see Amorim cork form a part of this historical exhibition by a major artist brings an added smile to his face due to Kentridge’s association with the wine world, Amorim’s primary focus due to the demand for cork stoppers.

“Kentridge is a great friend of wine, having not only drawn labels for premier collections by South Africa producers, but also having been selected by Bordeaux first growth Château Mouton Rothschild to design the label for its 2016 vintage,” says Sá. “To be associated with art of this nature and with great wine underscores the values of Amorim.”