William Kentridge The Head & the Load

Presented by the Arsht Center for three days only during Miami Art Week 2022, William Kentridge’s THE HEAD & THE LOAD invites audiences directly onto the Lynn Wolfson stage of the Ziff Ballet Opera House to be immersed in a powerful story about Africans in World War I. With the wings and backstage of the Opera House reconfigured to become a site-specific performance space large enough to accommodate this monumental work, the audience will take its place directly onstage for a once-in-a-lifetime theatrical experience.

Taking its title from a Ghanaian proverb — "the head and the load are the troubles of the neck" — this epic theatrical-music piece tells the neglected story of the millions of African porters and carriers who served British, French and German forces during the First World War. This has been called Kentridge’s most ambitious project to date, and draws on every aspect of his practice to combine music, dance, film projections, mechanized sculptures and shadow play in a visionary theatrical alchemy.

Created by Kentridge, one of the most renowned contemporary artists in the world, THE HEAD & THE LOAD has been described as “electrifying” (The Independent) and a “fiercely beautiful historical pageant” (New York Times).

Guests will be whisked backstage and onto the largest custom-built stage in Arsht Center history to be embedded in a moving, visually striking live performance where all the elements of Kentridge's singularly original practice coalesce.

William Kentridge is an internationally acclaimed South African artist, renowned for the evocative power of his work, which has thrilled audiences around the globe. His exhibitions and large-scale, staged performances delve into the history of colonialism in Africa and the aspirations and failures of revolutionary politics, while engaging a wide range of visual and aural references - from European high modernism to African traditional and contemporary music and dance. Operating on a grand scale, his work has been shown and collected by museums all over the world.

THE HEAD & THE LOAD sees Kentridge work with his longtime collaborator Philip Miller, one of South Africa’s leading composers, and choreographer Gregory Maqoma to create what the artist describes as “an interrupted musical procession.” Led by musical director and co-composer Thuthuka Sibisi, this rich and multilayered performance features an international cast of singers, dancers and performers – a majority directly from South Africa. Miller’s score is performed by musicians from the ever-adventurous, New York-based chamber orchestra The Knights, who are joined by musicians from Italy, South Africa and Guinea. Miller’s powerful and evocative compositions offer a perfect complement to Kentridge’s imaginative work.

THE HEAD & THE LOAD is an exceptionally ambitious work of performance that can only be produced and presented in vast venues that can also skillfully execute multifaceted and highly technical productions. The work premiered at the Tate Modern in London, where it formed part of the British commemorations of World War I and was then presented in New York for a two-week run at the Park Avenue Armory. THE HEAD & THE LOAD arrives at Miami’s Arsht Center for a limited run during Art Week.

THE HEAD & THE LOAD at the Arsht Center is funded with leadership support from The Roy Cockrum Foundation with additional support from Valerie Dillon and Daniel Lewis.

THE HEAD & THE LOAD POST-SHOW CONVERSTATION

William Kentridge in conversation with THE HEAD & THE LOAD creative team.

Join us immediately following the Saturday matinee performance of THE HEAD & THE LOAD for a 30-minute conversation with show creator William Kentridge, his collaborators and cast members from the production. Audience members will learn about Kentridge’s creative process and Africa’s role in the First World War.

*Artists, titles, dates, times and prices subject to change.