Merit Q&A - Eugene Hlophe

Congratulations on being announced as one of the 7 winners in the Sasol New Signatures Competition 2021.

Congratulations on being announced as one of the 7 winners in the Sasol New Signatures Competition 2021. Tell us what your reaction was when you received the news.

I was astonished.  The moment was an act of surprise and my heart fuelled with tons of gladness. I was in the staff room getting ready for my lesson. When I got the news, fortunately my phone was not on silent. I was advised to keep the news confidential. Nevertheless, my face was beaming with happiness and my colleagues and learners wondered at the reason behind.

Is this the first time you have entered the competition?

No, I had 2 humbling  attempts in 2015 and 2016 when I was in varsity. For both times my works made the  first cut, Top 100 finalist. I guess I wasn’t ready  for the second cut. Also my subject matter didn’t address a social issue or had much contribution to the contemporary South African art arena.

Tell us a little about your artistic journey up until the point of entering Sasol New Signatures 2021?  

After graduation 2016, I became an Art and English FAL teacher at my former Dassenhoek High school. This was both exciting and scary. A journey of rediscovery. A rebirth of my Subject matter, and an artistic voice of confidence in my work. Affirmed and encrypted by pain, brokenness, disillusionment, dehumanisation, hopelessness, violence,  substance abuse, and inequality of education in peri-urban spaces.

Over the past five years, I’ve learnt to make art in my head, and fortunately I’m an introvert. Oftentimes I’m with students working on new projects and teaching – school holidays are never enough to frequently produce my own work.  But, recently I’ve managed to get the balance right, and there was no harm in entering the Sasol New Signatures Competition again. I wanted some exposure and recognition.

Who has had the biggest influence on your career as an artist to date? 

In 2016, I spent a few days at the MET Museum in New York City. It was an extraordinary experience to see a broad and rich art collection.  Most of the works I had seen only in art history books and articles. The presentation and curation of works was phenomenal. I was moved by every piece I gazed on. Great art always inspires young talent.

Tell us a little about why you created the piece you submitted? 

Since the insertion of the pandemic the South Africa education system took a big hit.  The social distancing regulations made it hard for schools to commence as most educators were losing their lives. The privileged schools were able to keep up via social media e.g. YouTube, Web, WhatsApp, and Facebook. The less fortunate schools were not able to copy at all. Moreover I’m one of the teachers who had to bear these harsh conditions whilst teaching matric students.  My work is a visual collection of frustrations from my colleagues and I.  My piece attempts to be a voice from the wilderness,  a cry, calling for equality of resources and education.

How have you navigated the past 18 months of this pandemic?  Has it affected the way you work or the messaging in your work?

Yes it has affected the message in my work as I’ve mentioned before. It was tough not meeting with other artists in person or going to art shows. I’m very grateful for the galleries that reinvented themselves and put up shows online. However, work behind a screen is not the same as in person.

Tell us about your preferred medium/s ...and why? 

This is hard because I can use all the mediums well. I like to work around my concept and let it lead me to the right medium. But with that said most of my ideas are conceived through drawing using a charcoal stick.

When people view your work – what reaction/response  are you hoping to create?

I want to provoke thoughts and emotions that lead to new conclusions

Why do you think your work was chosen as a top 7?

It resonated with the judges. It met the national standards of art and was conceptually sound.

And if you are chosen as the overall winner?  How would you feel? Have you already got an idea or vision for your solo exhibition?

I’m very happy I made the second cut, Top 7 finalist. It would be a great accomplishment and a dream come true to be an overall winner. I have  been working towards a body of work that could form a solo exhibition but it hasn’t been easy because it is not feasible at the moment. So the opportunity would have come at the right time.

What are you currently working on? What is next for you as an artist?      

I’m working on a  big body of work on inequality of education in peri-urban spaces. Visually exploring the social construction of schools, students, educators and South African history of education. These works are executed through installations , video montages, paintings and sculptures.

Which South African artists do you admire and why? 

William Kentridge, his work is very engaging conceptually, physically and he has had a long successful art career. Dineo Seshe Bopape, I love her installations and video montages - She’s very playful and experimental.

Is there anything else you want to add?

I’d like to thank Sasol New Signatures and everyone who has invested in my artistic journey.