Two exhibits in town have momentarily drawn me away from pre-connubial ennui. William Kentridge is showing at SFMoMA, a big show of his films, and environments constructed for them; and John Neff has a sassy little installation at the Right Window. Both artists are within the parameters of Coco’s Type: physically slightly larger than life, a belly here, a bald head there… oh, and their art seduces me with wit, intelligence, and a kind of informal formal rigor.
Kentridge’s films are such complete experiences, containing so much narrative invention, such dazzlingly simple technique, his hand and likeness in everything… my only disappointment in the show is that the films are given these kind of meaningless environments with superfluous framed stills on the walls, etc… One installation, though, was quite wonderful, a meditation on the artist in his studio. For this installation, he summoned Meliese, who is always summoned indirectly anyway, but this time referring to specific films, utilizing simple techniques to create a magical tableau of the creative process and environment.
Neff’s installation utilizes early photographic techniques filtered through contemporary digital technology. The results feel old and new at the same time, and the imagery pared down into lovely washes of form and texture and image.
