William Kentridge
The Palimpsest of Memory: The Life and Art of William Kentridge To encounter the work of William Kentridge is to enter a world where time is not linear, but layered, much like the very surfaces upon which he works. Born in Johannesburg on April 28, 1955, Kentridge’s creative consciousness was forged in the crucible of apartheid-era South Africa. Growing up in a household defined by legal resistance—his parents, Sydney Kentridge and Fe…
The Lifeline
Scroll through William Kentridge's working life — artwork by artwork, chapter by chapter — from the earliest dated work to the last. Each thumbnail is pinned at its exact year on the gold axis.
Chapters — Career Periods
The ribbon is divided into shaded bands, one per career chapter. Each chapter groups William Kentridge's works by their historical period — early training, mature practice, final years.
Thumbnails — Dated Works
Every thumbnail is pinned at its precise creation year. A thin gold thread drops from the image to its exact point on the axis. Larger frames mark the artist's masterpieces by rank.
Colour Band — Movement Drift
The gradient bar beneath the axis shifts colour as the dominant art movement changes over time — from the warm golds of the early period through the deeper tones of maturity. It fills progressively as you scroll.
