KENTRIDGE AND THE CENTRE FOR THE LESS GOOD IDEA
JUNE 28 2025 - JULY 27 2025
SPOLETO68 FESTIVAL DEI DUE MONDI
The project by the Carla Fendi Foundation and the Mahler & LeWitt Studios, DEVELOPED in collaboration with the 68th edition of the Spoleto Festival, introduced the public to the work South African artist William Kentridge performs together with The Centre for the Less Good Idea, the arts center he created in 2016 in Johannesburg, South Africa, with artist Bronwyn Lace.. The Centre promotes collaborative and interdisciplinary projects, particularly focusing on supporting artists from the African continent, with the distinctive strategy of encouraging the exploration of the "less good idea": that is, the marginal idea that is initially rejected, but can subsequently give rise to greater creative opportunities.
Throughout the festival and until the end of July, the former baptistery of the Manna d'Oro hosted the exhibition UNHAPPEN UNHAPPEN UNHAPPEN, which featured four animated dioramas created by Anathi Conjwa, William Kentridge, Micca Manganye, and Sabine Theunisse, utilizing the theatrical technique known as Pepper's Ghost. The Centre also shared its philosophy and methods through two workshops: the first focused on a practical introduction to Pepper's Ghost techniques, and the second on live sound composition as a commentary for silent films. As part of the project, William Kentridge delivered the lecture Finding the Less Good Idea, held at the historic Teatro Caio Melisso Carla Fendi. William Kentridge was also presented with the Carla Fendi STEAM Award 2025 in recognition of his exceptional artistic talent and his valuable work in the social sphere, both as an individual and through The Centre for the Less Good Idea. The award's monetary contribution was intended to support the Centre's activities.
UNHAPPEN UNHAPPEN UNHAPPEN - PEPPER'S GHOST DIORAMAS
Animated dioramas by William Kentridge, Anathi Conjwa, Micca Manganye, and Sabine Theunissen were premiered in this exhibition produced by the Carla Fendi Foundation and the Mahler & LeWitt Studios, developed with The Centre for the Less Good Idea for Spoleto68 Festival dei Due Mondi. The exhibition was curated by Guy Robertson, curator and co-director of the Mahler & LeWitt Studios, and Bronwyn Lace, Director of The Centre for the Less Good Idea.
FINDING THE LESS GOOD IDEA - LECTURE BY WILLIAM KENTRIDGE
In a crowded theatre, William Kentridge delivered one of his acclaimed lectures as part of the program of events connected to the project by the Carla Fendi Foundation and the Mahler & LeWitt Studios, developed in collaboration with The Centre for the Less Good Idea — the centre for performing arts founded in 2016 by Kentridge himself in Johannesburg. Created for Spoleto68 Festival dei Due Mondi, the project explores themes related to the search for “the less good idea.”
THE CENTRE FOR THE LESS GOOD IDEA - WORKSHOPS
Introduction to Pepper's Ghost
Sounding Pictures – live scores to short silent films
The project by the Carla Fendi Foundation and the Mahler & LeWitt Studios developed with William Kentridge and The Centre for the Less Good Idea included two workshops led by Bronwyn Lace and Neo Muyanga, respectively director and Impresario of the Centre. The first explored the use of the theatrical illusion technique of the Pepper’s Ghost, the second focused on methods of improvisation of live sound composition as a commentary for silent films.
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