The works shown this year make up the fourth solo exhibition of the work of William Kentridge to be shown at Annandale Galleries since 1996. The first show acted as a prelude to his meteoric rise in the international art world, culminating in his current position as unquestionably one of the most influential and important artists of our time. The Galleries?s eight-year affiliation with the artist has its origins in director Bill Gregory?s first encounter with Kentridge?s work, framed upon a wall at the house of a London art dealer in 1988. At the time, Gregory noted he was "struck by the raw power and immediacy of the images, and was fascinated by the unique working progress."

He was fortunate enough to meet the artist during a 1995 visit to the first Johannesburg Biennale Africus, becoming more intimate with his work in the process. He was immediately attracted to Kentridge?s singular practice, consisting of short animated films, charcoal drawings and sculpture, methods and techniques in which he has continued to pursue up until today.

William Kentridge was born in Johannesburg in 1955 where he continues to live and work today. He studied politics and African studies at University of Witwatersrand and theatre in Paris. Current projects include a group of large bronze figures for the Art Gallery of Western Australia in Perth; and work towards a production (in association with De Munt / La Monnaie, Brussels) of Mozart's Die Zauberflöte, which Kentrige will direct in 2005. The centrpiece of the current exhibition is the new film ?The Magic Flute?. This is his fourth solo exhibition at Annandale Galleries including ?Eidophusikon? - seven colonial landscapes and drawings from Faustus in Africa (1996) ?Procession? 2000 and Selected Graphics 2002. Kentridge was the officially featured artist at the Melbourne Art Fair in 2002 where Annandale staged a solo show and film.