The Nose

On the occasion of the Met premiere of Shostakovich’s The Nose

William Kentridge
February 26, 2010 – May 15, 2010

Ad Hoc: Works for The Nose presented a selection of pieces William Kentridge created for his new production of Shostakovich’s The Nose, which had its Met premiere in the 2009–10 season. The exhibition featured a number of charcoal drawings, including one of Shostakovich himself, and 125 paper-and-wood costume cutouts, among other pieces, made by the artist and Greta Goiris, the costume designer. Also on display was a disintegrating wooden sculpture based on the Shostakovich drawing; this rotating sculpture was projected on the front curtain before each performance of The Nose, seen while the orchestra is tuning up. Kentridge’s Met debut coincided with the Museum of Modern Art’s career retrospective of his work, entitled William Kentridge: Five Themes, which showed the full breadth of his output.

Another Kheppi Ending, 2009
collage, ink, found paper, and crayon
32 x 20 inches
Courtesy the artist and Marian Goodman Gallery, NY

Untitled (Drawing for suite of 30 "Nose" etchings), 2009
charcoal and crayon on paper
15 1/2 x 20 7/8 inches
Courtesy the artist and Marian Goodman Gallery, NY

Untitled (Drawing for suite of 30 "Nose" etchings), 2009
charcoal and crayon on paper
10 1/4 x 15 1/2 inches
Courtesy the artist and Marian Goodman Gallery, NY

Untitled (Drawing for suite of 30 "Nose" etchings), 2009
charcoal and crayon on paper10 5/8 x 15 1/2 inches
Courtesy the artist and Marian Goodman Gallery, NY

Untitled (Drawing for suite of 30 "Nose" etchings), 2009
charcoal and crayon on paper
10 5/8 x 15 1/2 inches
Courtesy the artist and Marian Goodman Gallery, NY

Untitled (Drawing for suite of 30 "Nose" etchings), 2009
charcoal and crayon on paper
15 1/2 x 21 inches
Courtesy the artist and Marian Goodman Gallery, NY

Untitled (Drawing for suite of 30 "Nose" etchings), 2009
charcoal and crayon on paper
10 1/4 x 15 1/2 inches
Courtesy the artist and Marian Goodman Gallery, NY

Untitled (Drawing for suite of 30 "Nose" etchings), 2009
charcoal and crayon on paper
15 3/8 x 10 5/8 inches
Courtesy the artist and Marian Goodman Gallery, NY

Untitled (Drawing for suite of 30 "Nose" etchings), 2009
charcoal and crayon on paper
15 5/8 x 20 7/8 inches
Courtesy the artist and Marian Goodman Gallery, NY

Untitled (Drawing for suite of 30 "Nose" etchings), 2009
charcoal and crayon on paper
15 1/2 x 21 inches
Courtesy the artist and Marian Goodman Gallery, NY

Untitled (Drawing for suite of 30 "Nose" etchings), 2009
charcoal and crayon on paper
10 3/4 x 18 inches
Courtesy the artist and Marian Goodman Gallery, NY

Untitled (Drawing for suite of 30 "Nose" etchings), 2009
charcoal and crayon on paper
10 3/8 x 15 1/2 inches
Courtesy the artist and Marian Goodman Gallery, NY

Shostakovich, 2009
charcoal on paper
27 1/2 x 22 5/8 inches
Courtesy the artist and Marian Goodman Gallery, NY

Portrait, 2009
wood and metal clamps
35 3/8 x 27 1/2 x 47 1/4 inches
Courtesy the artist and Marian Goodman Gallery, NY

Portrait (side view), 2009
wood and metal clamps
35 3/8 x 27 1/2 x 47 1/4 inches
Courtesy the artist and Marian Goodman Gallery, NY

Please Comrade Chemist, 2009
ink, Tipp-Ex, and crayon on found paper
Courtesy the artist and Marian Goodman Gallery, NY

All the Faceless Populace, 2009
ink on found paper
20 1/8 x 11 inches
Courtesy the artist and Marian Goodman Gallery, NY

Nose with Plaid Pants, 2009
found papers (Italian 18c cash book), India ink, and paint
72 x 51 1/8 inches
Courtesy the artist and Marian Goodman Gallery, NY

In the Winter Palace, 2009
paint on found paper
11 3/8 x 5 7/8 inches
Courtesy the artist and Marian Goodman Gallery, NY

Ensemble, 2009
wood, cotton paper, steel, wood stain, and crayon
self size: 49 3/4 x 86 1/2 x 7 inches
130 small 2-dimensional figures, about 5 7/8 x 2 3/8 inches (average)
Courtesy the artist and Marian Goodman Gallery, NY

Installation view of Ad Hoc: Works for The Nose.