He made history at the Durban University of
Technology last year when he became the first student in the Jewellery Design
Programme to score 100% for his portfolio.
This week, he made history yet again after
becoming part of the Emma Smith Scholarship Award’s 82 year old legacy. Songezo
Baleni, who hails from a rural village in UMzimkhulu on the KZN south coast,
was announced as the 2012 Emma Smith Scholarship Award winner at a ceremony
held at the DUT City Campus - walking away with a R40,000 cash prize.
“The judging panel looks at four things
(when evaluating the contestants’ work),” said DUT Arts and Design Faculty
Deputy Dean Professor Graham Stewart, who was also the chairman of the judging
panel. “The first is the good presentation of the work, second being how the
candidate (orally) put forward the idea, third is the impact the artist’s work
will have on society and last being the impact (of the prize) on the
individual.”
As part of the evaluation process, the
judges also asked the contestants where they see themselves in the next five
years. “The most inspirational answer came from Songezo. The originality of his
designs, the sense he had of his South African heritage - which shows through
the designs and are themselves the best of local and global - are what made him
tonight’s winner,” said Prof Stewart who nevertheless stressed that all
nominees are winners. “The judges faced an extraordinarily difficult decision;
all candidates did well.”
Baleni completed his BTech degree in
Jewellery Design last year where he performed exceptionally well. He is
currently lecturing Computer-aided Design (CAD) and Setting on a part time
basis to second-year Jewellery Design students.
The 27 year applies traditional weaving
techniques using precious metals in creating and manufacturing his designs, a
skill he says he developed using his heritage. He describes his style as
high-end commercial but distinctive, saying he draws his inspiration from his
passion to create as well as his heritage. His work is also on show in Johannesburg
art galleries.
“The competition was tough; I didn’t think
I’d win. I developed something using my heritage which has become a distinctive
piece of jewellery,” said Baleni. Creating his unique pieces using his
signature weaving technique is however not easy. “Precious metal isn’t like
grass which is soft. It (precious metal) gives you blisters (on your fingers)
during the weaving process so you often have to take breaks in-between. For
example, it took a month to weave the necklace,” he said pointing to the centrepiece
of his exhibition.
Chris de Beer, Associate Director in the
Jewellery Design Programme said Baleni did not work towards winning the Emma
Smith Scholarship, but won because he is constantly learning. De Beer said
Baleni spends the majority of his time, including Saturdays on campus. “When he comes across new things he just dives in,
he’s eager to learn. With talented people like Songezo, you don’t feel like
you’re teaching them something, all you do is give them space to do it, that’s
what I feel I’m doing as his lecturer.”
Professor Nomthandazo Gwele, the DUT DVC
Academic, congratulated Baleni, saying his parents deserve gratitude for
raising “such a talented young man”. “This (Baleni) is the one we must never
lose as a nation. We must create space for him to grow. I congratulate him.”
An
exhibition of the nominee works will be up at the DUT City Campus Interior Design
Department (Room 24) until February 8, 2013
A video profiling Songezo Baleni is available on Youtube. Titled Songezo Baleni
is DUT's master jeweller, it was produced by the DUT Faculty of Arts and
Design and its Journalism Programme.
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