In ancient mythology, the Sibyl was a prophetess known for her powers of foresight. According to legend, she lived in a cave near Naples, where she would write her predictions on oak leaves and place them at the cave’s entrance. But when seekers reached for the leaves, the wind would scatter them — leaving people uncertain whether the words they gathered foretold their own fate or someone else’s.
This story of ambiguity and unknowable destiny forms the conceptual foundation of "Waiting for the Sibyl," a multimedia performance by South African artist and director William Kentridge. The work was staged in Seoul on May 9 and 10 at the GS Caltex Art Theater in Yeoksam-dong in Gangnam District, southern Seoul. Since premiering in Rome in 2019, the piece has toured cities including New York, London, and Sydney.
Kentridge, best known for his charcoal drawings, brings that same medium into his performances. His method — drawing, erasing and redrawing on paper — leaves visible traces of time, which are then transformed into moving images that serve as a visual narrative throughout the performance.
