Schattenfiguren vor einem grünlichen Hintergrund
© The Centre for the Less Good Idea, Foto: Zivanai Matangi

William Kentridge. Listen to the Echo

A Resonance Room for People and Puppets

The exhibition in the Puppet Theatre Collection was jointly designed with the Centre for the Less Good Idea founded by Willian Kentridge. As a contribution to the big exhibition festival “Listen to the Echo”, this collaborative project generates echoes between different artistic worlds: the universe of William Kentridge, the creative practice of the Centre and the (historical) art of puppet theatre as reflected in artefacts preserved in the collection.

  • Exhibition Site Kraftwerk Mitte
  • Dates 06/09/2025—28/06/2026
  • Opening Hours Thursday to Friday 14—18 Saturday and Sunday, Saturday to Sunday 10—18
  • Admission Fees normal 7 €, reduced 5 €, under 17 free

Künstlerinnen und Künstler

Artists from the Centre explored the Puppet Theatre Collection and responded in their own way to the items, focusing on themes with which they already have versatile experience of their own, such as playing with shadows and silhouettes or animating objects in a green screen studio. For the annual exhibition they created five showcases based on Pepper’s Ghost. This is an old theatre technique for conjuring ghostly appearances onto stage with the aid of a semi-transparent sheet of glass.

drei Männer halten Puppen in die Luft
© The Centre for the Less Good Idea, Foto: Zivanai Matangi
Workshop im Centre for the Less Good Idea

Neue Sound- und Videoinstallationen

New sound and video installations feature alongside historical objects, such as those in the museum’s section on shadow puppetry, or else integrate them. Also on display are works by William Kentridge as a director of puppet theatre and a creator of animated objects. At various points in the exhibition visitors are invited to try out artistic scenarios for themselves and add their own echoes to the presentation.

ein älterer Herr steht neben einem Kasten, viele Menschen schauen ihm zu
© The Centre for the Less Good Idea, Foto: Zivanai Matangi
William Kentridge während eines Workshops im Centre for the Less Good Idea

Das Centre for the Less Good Idea

The Centre for the Less Good Idea

Founded in Johannesburg in 2016 by William Kentridge and artist Bronwyn Lace, the Centre promotes experimental, collaborative and interdisciplinary work. Its name was inspired by an African proverb: “If the good doctor can’t cure you, find the less good doctor.” The underlying idea is that an immediately obvious solution might look perfect at first, but it is not necessarily the best one. 

Holzpuppe zwischen den Beinen eines Menschen
© The Centre for the Less Good Idea, Foto: Zivanai Matangi
Workshop im Centre for the Less Good Idea

Übertragen

When applied to the arts, this approach grants scope for play and for exploring options, which encourages freer creative processes. Artists develop their ideas together, while the boundaries between techniques and genres become fluid. The Centre sees itself as a laboratory or workshop open to experimental, collaborative and interdisciplinary art.

Program at the Puppentheatersammlung

Zum 70. Geburtstag

William Kentridge is one of the world’s most important contemporary artists. The Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden are dedicating an extensive exhibition project to the internationally acclaimed artist to mark his 70th birthday with exhibitions at Albertinum, Kupferstich-Kabinett and Puppentheatersammlung.

View all exhibitions

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William Kentridge. Listen to the Echo | Trailer

Förderer

Partner

Förderer

Weißer Schriftzug "Kulturstiftung des Bundes" auf schwarzem Hintergrund
Schwarzer Schriftzug "Freunde der Staatlichen Kunstsammlungen Dresden e.V."

Sponsoren

Logo von SachsenEnergie

weitere

Further Exhibitions
06/09/2025 —04/01/2026
gezeichnete Figuren mit Megafonen in der Hand laufen vor einem grauen Hintergrund

Puppentheatersammlung

in Kraftwerk Mitte

[Translate to English:]
06/09/2025 —15/02/2026
Radierung mit Ausschnitt einer Weltkarte mit schwarzen Zeichnungen

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