Ubu

Image from a performance of "Ubu and the Truth Commission."
Image acquired from: http://www.artthrob.co.za/99may/images/kentridge-ubulive.jpg








William Kentridge, as portrayed in the written work, "Mundus Inversus, Mundus Perversus" by Lynne Cooke, was an artist who enjoyed exploring the theoretical and literal abnormalities of human interaction as well as placing factual and historic material into his art. As a young artist, Kentridge chose to expose things such as a governments' brutality using symbolism within puppetry and video. He also liked twisting the ideals and norms of society in order to engage with the audience so that they would have to pay close attention to what was happening. Kentridge said, "a spot where optimism is kept in check and nihilism is kept at bay. It is in this narrow gap that I see myself working." He wasn't going to be confined to a box and he wanted others to release themselves from their own confines as well. The Truth and Reconciliation Commission was developed in 1996 which was an agreement that took place between the old government and the new ANC which investigated human rights abuses in South Africa during the past thirty-five years. Kentridges' character Ubu was revived when he was asked to take part in an exhibition. Ubu seems to have a multiple personality disorder as the character is paranoid and on the defense one minute and in a state of confidence and song the next. The world that Ubu lives in is opposite that of what would be considered normal as everything evil, rational, or false dominates. However, in the film "Ubu Tells the Truth" things such as torture and killing are placed into view. These images are unsettling and, as they should, provoke a sense of respect for those affected and an acknowledgement that the things that were done in South Africa were inhumane. Overall, I believe that Kentridge wanted to create an environment through his art that would provoke people to think about the world around them. He used his characters to portray a definite sense of uneasiness which I believe allowed him to express truths with greater impact and reception.