Limpopo Eisteddfod showcases local talent

Mall of the North played host to the city’s art lovers when all the entries in the Limpopo Eisteddfod art competition were exhibited in Edgars Court from Friday to Sunday with a special cocktail evening on Saturday night.
With beautifully presented snacks, wine, lemonade and ginger ale in hand, guests had ample time to amble through the exhibition and take in the creative talent of some of the province’s artists to the soothing sounds of Cuban virtuoso, Arianna Cana Mackenzie’ tenor saxophone.
During the event Limpopo Eisteddfod art coordinator, Gerhard Franken introduced the winners of the sketches, photographs and painting categories, who were announced in last week’s edition of Polokwane Observer, to the guests.
Franken thanked Mall of the North, who not only offered up space to host the exhibition but also actively promoted the event through advertising, Polokwane Observer, print media sponsor, the judges, other sponsor and individuals who helped to make the art competition a success.
Cornelis Roelofse, Professor in Criminology at the University of Limpopo and well-known local artist, was the keynote speaker and started off by announcing the winner of the modern art and sculptures category, Amelie Franken. He took the 11-year-old on a journey through her thinking processes and she explained how she created her entry called ‘Playtime’.
Roelofse, who also graciously sponsored the wine for the evening, said art is always an expression of a person’s soul. He used the famous photographs of Hector Pieterson and the little Vietnamese girl fleeing from a Napalm explosion to illustrate his point, saying that these were moments in time captured forever, speaking to the human psyche. “When we look at art, we look at something created by a human being and we engage with it,” he said.
He turned to the entries of the younger artists and said these all had the markings of greatness. “If you cannot love children’s art, you have to revisit your soul.”
Addressing the participants, Roelofse encouraged them not to give up just because they did not win. “If you did not win a prize, it doesn’t mean that you have lost, it only means that you have started,” he said and told a story of how his first painting was described as “messy” by a gallery owner. “I thanked her for her comment and worked on my technique. Today I am proud to say that quite a few of my paintings are hanging in that same gallery today.”
He ended his speech with a word of advice. “Lift your hand and create something that you like. Somewhere, somehow, someone will find it beautiful and full of meaning.”

Story & photos: MARKI FRANKEN
>>marki.observer@gmail.com