Artists shine in La’tilier awards
JOBURG - Absa's L'Atelier Arts Competition 2013 has honoured the top four budding artists with residency awards in Europe and the United States of America.
Budding artists from across the length and breadth of South Africa were celebrated at the 28th edition of Absa’s L’Atelier exhibition.
The bank transformed its office space in 161 Main Street, Johannesburg, into a massive art gallery studio to showcase the artwork.
More than 80 artists were selected to take part in the exhibition of 100 masterpieces, from which the top 10 artists were chosen to enter the L’Atelier competition. Of the top 10, only four made the grade for various awards, some of which included varying periods of residence in the United States of America, German and France.
From the chosen artworks, three of them reflected the country’s past in terms of its history and traditions, providing social and political comment, while the fourth explored the universal theme of death and transformation in a novel and engaging way.
Bloemfontein’s Pauline Gutter took the overall award and main prize for her piece, Die Huweliksaansoek, while Benoni resident Mongezi Ncaphayi was awarded the Gerard Sekoto Award for the most promising artist with an annual income less than R60 000 for his work, Migrant Workers’ Hostels.
The two Merit Award winners were Jaco van Schalkwyk of Johannesburg, awarded for his mixed media installation,Beloofde Land? or Promised Land? and Kathleen Sawyer of Port Elizabeth was recognised for Somata.
Gutter walked away with R125 000, a return air ticket to Paris and a six months residency at the Cité Internationale des Arts, and a solo exhibition at the Absa Gallery when she returns from her sojourn.
The Absa L’Atelier Art Competition is held in partnership with the South African National Association for the Visual Arts and is rated as the longest-running and most influential art contest on the continent. It pays homage to established and emerging young local artists and their compelling artistic vision.
Opening the exhibition and honouring the L’Atelier winning artists, French Ambassador to South Africa Elisabeth Barbier paid tribute to Nelson Mandela, whose life story and political career exhibition in Paris City Hall has reached viral proportions, with 1 000 people visiting each day since its launch earlier this month.
It is part of 230 projects in arts, culture, science, sports, music and dance which forms the South African Season in France and will run until December.
The exhibition of the top 100 works will be on public display from 18 July to 22 August at the Absa Gallery in 161 Main Street. Members of the public are requested to bring their ID books for parking and entry purposes.
To view pictures of the event click here.
