(Elizabeth Jane
Balcomb with her sculptural pieces “I am You” and “Survival”)
The 2014 Sasol New Signatures art competition has been won
by Durban artist Elizabeth Jane Balcomb, for her works from The weighed and measured series, I am you & Survival, which are both sculptural pieces.
This annual competition, established by the Association of
Arts Pretoria in the late 1960’s, is the longest running national art
competition in South Africa and this year Sasol celebrates its 25th anniversary
as a lead sponsor of the Sasol New Signatures art competition.
A self-taught artist who has been a full-time sculptor for
the past five years, Balcomb wins R100,000 as well as a solo exhibition at the
Pretoria Arts Museum next year.
Commenting on Balcomb’s work, the judges said, “The artist’s
keen interest in nature conservation and a deep longing for wild places, led
her to become interested in aspects and characteristics of therianthropic
figures found in the iconography of San paintings. Animal-human figures
symbolise animal characteristics found in the personalities of humans.
Furthermore, these figures offer a window into the spiritual world regarding
the realms of the living and the dead.”
They added that the combination of media and the interplay
between found objects, cement and bronze castings has yielded work of superior
craftsmanship. The interplay between the disconnectedness of the figures which
are in dialogue with one another, further plays on the humanist aspect which is
contrasted by animal behaviour. This evident disconnectedness between the two
artworks further fuels the dialogue between the recognition of reference and
the world of fantasy.
“The sculptures are carefully balanced on industrial type
callipers which strengthen the concept of ‘measured,’ creating an uneasy
compositional cantilever which further plays on the notion of ‘weight’ and
balance, further contributing to an artwork which is deserving of winning the
2014 Sasol New Signatures art competition.”
Competition runner up Adelheid Camilla von Maltitz with her
sculptured piece “Bodies” took the second prize of R25 000, while five
merit prizes of R10,000 each went to Lucienne Pallas Bestall, Bongani Innocent
Khanyile, Lorienne Lotz, Josua Strümpfer and Colleen Winter.
The competition attracted a record number of entries - 587
works were received from artists from all over the country through eight
regional selection points, of which a record 110 were shortlisted as finalists.
The Sasol New Signatures art exhibition is on show at the
Pretoria Art Museum and is open to the public until October 19, 2014. Also
exhibiting during this period is 2013 Sasol New Signatures art competition
winner Dot Vermeulen with her solo exhibition titled, Posting Presence.
For more information on the exhibition, visit www.sasolsignatures.co.za or
contact Nandi Hilliard from the Association of Arts Pretoria on 012 346 3100,
083 288 5117 or artspta@mweb.co.za
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