The awards were formerly known as the Ekurhuleni National Fine Arts Awards and were held at the Coen Scholtz Recreation Centre in Kempton Park. Nzusa’s work, titled “My Childhood Friends”, won him the Ekurhuleni Prize for the 2014 Thami Mnyele Fine Arts Awards. The young Daveyton resident is currently completing his BA degree in graphic design. He also holds a National Diploma in Fine Art from the University of Johannesburg. From his first year in varsity Sandile’s creative ability and technical genius has been apparent, making him stand out from the crowd. He explores the theme of “Revisiting my childhood”, which explores the world of a boy growing up in post-apartheid South Africa, with little opportunity and with only the means to express creativity through inanimate objects generally found on the street and in the dustbin. Sandile creates astounding artworks from materials such as rags, wood and cardboard. His ability to create technically magnificent works in these types of media have labelled him “one to watch’’. In only a little time, Sandile has started flourishing and is being collected by many powerful local collectors. He has also been noticed by various curators and galleries in New York and Italy. He was recently shortlisted for the David Koloane Award and Mentorship Programme, and made it to the 2014 Sasol New Signatures finalists.
