gezeichnete Figuren mit Megafonen in der Hand laufen vor einem grauen Hintergrund
© William Kentridge

William Kentridge. Listen to the Echo

The Albertinum is highlighting two films: “More Sweetly Play the Dance”, made in 2015, features a procession of silhouetted figures. Led by a flag-bearer and spurred on by the lively ebb and flow of brass band music, a motley cavalcade of very different individuals advances across a barren landscape.

  • Dates 06/09/2025—04/01/2026
  • Opening Hours daily 11—17, Monday closed late opening "William Kentridge. Listen to the Echo", Thursday 11—20

Tickets

Ticket valid for the exhibition “William Kentridge. Listen to the Echo” (06.09.2025—04.01.2026) at the Albertinum, more tickets (e.g. combined tickets with the exhibition at the Kupferstich-Kabinett and the Puppentheatersammlung) available in our ticket shop

normal14 €
reduced10,50 €
under 17free

Ticket valid for: Special exhibition "William Kentridge. Listen to the Echo" (06.09.2025—15.02.2026) at the Kupferstich-Kabinett, more tickets (e.g. combined tickets with the exhibition at Albertinum and Puppentheatersammlung) available in our ticket shop

normal6 €
reduced4,50 €
under 17free

Ticket valid for: Special exhibition “William Kentridge. Listen to the Echo” (06.09.2025—28.06.2026) at the Puppentheatersammlung, more tickets (e.g. combined tickets with the exhibition at Kupferstich-Kabinett and Albertinum) available in our ticket shop

normal7 €
reduced5 €
under 17free

Im Albertinum

The seemingly constant flow is broken by short and longer gaps and disrupted by figures occasionally moving in the opposite direction, sporadically slowing and quickening the pace. Kentridge’s composition suggests a history which, rather than proceeding in a straight line towards its destination, is complicated by repetitions, interruptions and twists. 

William Kentridge, Still aus „More Sweetly Play The Dance", 2014
© William Kentridge
William Kentridge, Still aus „More Sweetly Play The Dance", 2014

In der Ausstellung

Kentridge’s figures cross paths in this exhibition with Dresden’s “Fürstenzug”, the panegyric portrayal of Saxony’s ruling Wettin dynasty in the cortege stretching more than 100 metres along the outer wall of the former Stallhof. The sketches for this mural, drawn on a scale of 1:1, form part of the Kupferstich-Kabinett’s collection and were recently restored. In this presentation they engage in a dialogue with the film: here the march through the Saxon history books, there humanity on its arduous path through life. 

Der zweite Film

The second film, “Oh To Believe In Another World” (2022), was commissioned to accompany the 10th Symphony of Dmitri Shostakovich (1906–1975), composed by the Russian after Stalin’s death. During the Stalin era, Shostakovich’s life swerved to and fro between compliance and artistic self-assertion, and this symphony is widely regarded as a settling of scores with the dictator. Drawing on the composer’s life and music, Kentridge constructs an arc from the death of Lenin (1924) to the end of Stalin’s rule (1953). In “Oh To Believe In Another World” we meet “history in the form of a collage” (William Kentridge). 

William Kentridge, Szene aus "Oh To Believe In Another World" (2022)
© William Kentridge
William Kentridge, Szene aus "Oh To Believe In Another World" (2022)

Im anschließenden Ausstellungsteil

The next section of this display co-opts other items – drawings, props, photographs, collages – to convey an impression of how these two films were designed and implemented. There are also selected sculptures, tapestries, prints and kinetic objects which expand on the themes in the films, adding to the spectrum in form and content and offering a broader glimpse of the artist’s versatile output.

Slider Impressionen

Program at Albertinum

Program at all venues

Program at all venues

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.

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William Kentridge. Listen to the Echo | Trailer

Katalog

publication accompanying the exhibition

William Kentridge. Listen to the Echo

edited by: Museum Folkwang Essen and Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden, 272 pages, ISBN 978-3-96999-476-4, publication date 26.09.2025, price: 38 €

William Kentridge. Listen to the Echo
digital platform voices

The Procession of Princes on paper

Die Zeichnung einer Gruppe Reiter mit Musikinstrumenten, angeführt von einem Reiter in stolzer Haltung.
© Kupferstich-Kabinett, SKD, Foto: Herbert Boswank
further information

Biography William Kentridge

Mann hinter Lautsprechern
© Kentridge Studio, Foto: Norbert Miguletz

3er Teaser

Information for journalists

Press area

gezeichnete Figuren mit Megafonen in der Hand laufen vor einem grauen Hintergrund
© William Kentridge

Sponsors

partners

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Das Logo von arte in orangefarbenen Buchstaben auf einem weißen Hintergrund
media partner
cooperation partner Foot Power

sponsors

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

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Weitere Ausstellungen

Further Exhibitions

Puppentheatersammlung

in Kraftwerk Mitte

[Translate to English:]
06/09/2025 —28/06/2026
[Translate to English:]

Kupferstich-Kabinett

in Residenzschloss

Portrait eines Mannes mit Hut und Vollbart
06/09/2025 —15/02/2026
Zeichnung von zwei Personen in Anzügen, deren Köpfe Kaffeekannen sind

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