Dresden honors artist William Kentridge via a festival-style exhibition

Prepare for an unforgettable cultural event as Dresden, Germany, hosts the exhibition "William Kentridge. Listen to the Echo" from 6 September 2025 to 4 January 2026.

The exhibition, initiated by the Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden (SKD), is the new annual exhibition of the Puppet Theatre Collection and focuses on the Centre of the Less Good Idea, a performance company founded by Kentridge in Johannesburg in 2016.

The Centre of the Less Good Idea uses the Pepper's Ghost technique, an illusion trick invented in England in the 19th century, in their performance. This technique will be on full display during a special performance marking the opening of the William Kentridge exhibition in Dresden. This unique event will feature a procession with oversized shadow figures, dancers, and musicians from the Centre of the Less Good Idea.

The performance will start at Albertinum Dresden and will include stops such as Brühl's Terrace, Procession of Princes, Residenzschloss, and Terrassen Ufer.

In addition to the performance, the exhibition in Dresden's Print Room focuses on Kentridge's graphic works, offering a cross-section of his entire printmaking oeuvre. Some of Kentridge's films are also being shown in Dresden's Print Room.

The Dresden Procession of Princes exhibition features preliminary drawings by Wilhelm Walther, restored and shown to the public for the first time.

The exhibition addresses are Albertinum, Print Room, and Puppet Theatre Collection, all located in Dresden. The opening of the exhibition will take place on 5 September 2025 at 7:30 PM. The performance is free to attend, making it an event not to be missed.

So, mark your calendars and join us in Dresden for this incredible celebration of William Kentridge's 70th birthday. It promises to be an event filled with art, culture, and the magic of the Pepper's Ghost technique.