Cercle Cité to Screen Artist William Kentridge's 'Self-Portrait as a Coffee Pot'

Cercle Cité in Luxembourg-Ville has announced an upcoming film screening as part of the tenth anniversary of its CeCiL's Box project.

Since 2015, Cercle Cité has been supporting local creation and has showcased the works of 34 young and emerging artists from the Greater Region in one of its windows on Rue du Curé, visible 24/7.

To mark the tenth anniversary of this project, Cercle Cité reported it is giving carte blanche to five of these artists for a cycle of artist film screenings throughout the year. Exploring their current research or serving as a source of inspiration for their practice, these screenings will be followed by a discussion with the artists, joined by specialists in their artistic field or enthusiasts of their art.

Next up, Cercle Cité will screen the film Self-Portrait as a Coffee Pot by William Kentridge, proposed by Julie Wagener, on Thursday 12 June 2025 at 18:30 in its Auditorium Henri Beck (enter via 2 Rue Genistre).

William Kentridge is a South African artist known for his distinctive style and multifaceted work, which fuses drawing, animation, theatre, sculpture and performance art. His works are deeply embedded in social, political and historical themes, often reflecting the complexities of South African identity, the apartheid era and broader global issues. His exploration of time, memory and transformation, along with his use of metaphor and allegory, allows his work to resonate deeply with issues of human experience and collective consciousness, noted Cercle Cité.

The organisers described Self-Portrait as a Coffee Pot as a playful yet profound reflection on identity, art-making and the process of continuous transformation. During this screening, the audience will dive into the first episode of the mini-series, which explores subjects such as identity as a fluid and shifting concept, the sometimes chaotic and arbitrary process of creation and the absurdity it conceals, as well as reflections on the artist's role in society and the complexities of the human experience in general.

In terms of technique and form, Julie Wagener's work, notably the installation she created for CeCiL's Box in 2020, does not share many parallels with Kentridge’s work per se. For Julie Wagener, inspiration stems more from a conceptual perspective. Both artistic practices share several key themes and methodologies, particularly in the way they use visual storytelling to explore identity, mental health and societal issues. Their use of figurative imagery, dual practices and layered meanings reportedly demonstrates a commitment to addressing complex themes through versatile artistic vocabularies. The organisers added that both artists engage with the world around them, inviting viewers to reconsider the connection between individual experience and broader cultural, political and social contexts.

The screening (film in English) will be followed by a discussion in Luxembourgish, featuring local artist Aurélie d'Incau.

Entry is free of charge, although registration is required. For further details, see https://cerclecite.lu/en/event/cecils-screenings-sur-proposition-de-julie-wagener