Winners Circle
Judges
A special thank you to our judges.
Sasol and the Association of Arts would like to express their heartfelt gratitude to the Sasol New Signatures judges, both regionally and nationally, who give of their valuable time to evaluate and select the winners from the hundreds of entries received.
Thank you for your great contribution to the success of this magnificent exhibition.
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Sikhumbuzo Nation Makandula
Sikhumbuzo Nation Makandula
The resourcefulness of Sikhumbuzo Nation Makandula with his video camera showcased an artwork that was complex yet simple and worthy of the Runner Up title of 2011 Sasol New Signatures Competition, held on 31 August 2011. The essence of Makandula’s piece, 'Ilolo' describes how things are either black or white and in order to resolve inner conflict, one side must always be denied in favour of the other.
This is a picture that does not obliterate pain and reality, but instead engages with it.
Born in De Aar, Northern Cape, the budding artist studied interior design at the Cape Peninsula of Technology, as well as graphic design at the Ruth Prowse School of Art in Cape Town. The combination of interior and graphic design gave Makandula a balanced foundation that is prevalent in his unique work.
The talented designer displayed creativity beyond just design. In 2009, he exhibited at a Writers Festival that later drew much attention, further exhibiting at the Nelson Mandela Museum in 2010. Makandula was chosen as one of five artists in the Eastern Cape to participate in the Arts Incubator programme hosted by the museum. In 2011, he was shortlisted as one of 10 finalists for a mentorship programme at Artspace Gallery in Johannesburg in 2011.
By this time his talent and composition was well respected, and Makandula was on his way to the top. The arts community had begun to see something extraordinary in his work and this gained him many accolades.
The video displays a rock not far from the Mandela royal burial ground along the cultural footprints of Madiba himself, in Qunu stands a young Xhosa man about to perform a trans ritual. Like the shaman himself the artist literally thrashes out his own identity addressing issues of sexuality, tradition, personality, rites of passage and in some instances challenges norms that are so taboo in the conservative cultural environment of the Eastern Cape. The patter of the rain and the beating of the bag on a wet surface encourage the viewer to become part of this rhythmic trans like state which is so prominent in most rituals.
The yearning for the connection (to the spirit, to each other and to the earth, is an expression of the sense of alienation that society has created among individuals. During the process of production, completeness took precedence over prettiness. Use of found objects created load, tension, and frustration brought about one's self.
Mohau Modisakeng
Soweto-born scoops Sasol New Signatures Title
Soweto-born Mohau Modisakeng emerged victorious at the 2011 Sasol New Signatures Competition, culminating in an evening filled with excitement at the Pretoria Art Museum. In recognizing the value and beauty of art in South Africa, the competition is in its 50th year.
Modisakeng's artwork titled, 'Qhatha' depicted spirituality and was ritualistic in its approach, winning the 25-year-old a grand prize of R60 000 and a solo exhibition next year at the Pretoria Art Museum. His work deals with identity and inner conflict that plays out in a set of eclectic and appropriated images.
The judges described his artwork as one that unites the artist's persona charging the work with a bold and sensual identity drawing the viewer into the space.
The runner up was Sikumbuzo Makhandula, who walks away with a cash prize of R15 000. His piece is praised an an example of how resourceful one can be with a video camera, orange bags and a rainstorm. The artist's piece is complex yet simple.
There were five Merit Award winners for the evening, Claire Jorgensen, Semona Turvey, Kristie van Zyl, Rivon Marlen Viljoen and Nicole Weatherby who walk away with R1000 each.
The national competition, sponsored by Sasol for the last 21 years, is presented annually with the Association of Arts Pretoria and is aimed at new, innovative and emerging young artists, 18 and older. With nearly 600 entries into this year's competition, the regional committees have selected a total of 82 art works for exhibition at the Pretoria Art Museum.
South Africa's freshest talent is unearthed through this competition and it is a platform for up and coming artists to launch their careers while being awarded for excellence, originality and perceptiveness. The competition is the longest running national art competition South Africa has ever seen. Information sessions were held throughout the country with the aim of teaching emerging artists how to evaluate, appreciate and advance in the industry.
"The 73 finalists for the 2011 Sasol New Signatures are worthy of their selection. It has been interesting to notice a return to more traditional media and art-making processes with experimentation being the order of the day. There has been considerable attention paid to presentation with the general message hitting home that this competition focuses on the controversial, contemporary and cutting edge. A good balance remains between all media however, new and traditional. It is encouraging to see artists stepping up to the plate," says Peter Binsbergen, National Chairperson of the Sasol New Signatures selection panels.
According to Sasol Sponsorship Manager, Richard Hughes, the art competition is an important event on Sasol's arts calendar and underpins the company's commitment and support of visual arts in South Africa.
"At Sasol, we are conscious of our commitment to the people of South Africa and our obligation as a large corporate to contribute to the promotion of our unique African culture. The competition provides a springboard for artists to get recognized and catapult their careers to new heights. The artwork this year was an increase in creativity, talent and innovation. Congratulations to Mohau Modisakeng, we are going to see greatness from this young man," says Hughes. According to Pieter van Heerden, Director at the Association of Arts Pretoria, the Sasol New Signatures Competition creates an immense value in discovering and encouraging artistic talent.
"The competition is major promoter of artistic empowerment with the successes of previous award winners and participants as shining examples. The competition has created a national awareness, being a corporate social commitment that invigorates communities and contributes to the ideal of nation-building," adds Van Heerden.
