It’s that
time of the year again when esteemed artist and Sasol New Signatures art
competition chairperson Pieter Binsbergen, embarks on a countrywide tour
offering the country’s best emerging artists an opportunity to learn from the
best.
Since 2001,
the Sasol New Signatures art competition has hosted information sessions for
potential entrants, with the aim of giving them the opportunity to gain much
needed technical advice regarding format, size, media and layout of entered
works.
“The New
Signatures competition has set the standard for what is known to be
international contemporary art. The information sessions offer a platform for
entrants to understand the genre in which this competition falls, in order to
remain internationally recognised as cutting edge,” explains Binsbergen.
‘This
year’s competition theme is Eye for Potential. With this theme Sasol is
challenging emerging South African artists to look beyond what the naked eye
can see, to create memorable art works. Valuable advice is offered regarding
the presentation of competition standard work. Prospective entrants are guided
in advance regarding proposal and artist statement writing, which forms a crucial
part of the entered work,” he adds
Since the
inception of these information sessions, competition judges have sited an
improvement in the quality of artworks entered. This can without a doubt be
attributed to the mentorship opportunity presented in these sessions. Taking
the form of an informal contemporary art workshop, artists have the chance to
pose questions that arise in the conceptualisation process of their works to
the chairperson and competition administrator. This has gone a long way toward
fueling artist’s awareness of and for visual arts.
2014 merit
award winner and first time competition entrant Bongani Khanyile remarked: “As
a young artist wanting to enter into the art industry, you want to do
everything you can to make your work unforgettable and impressive to the
judging panel. Attending the information session gave me useful insight into
the judges expectations and a better understanding what contemporary art is.”
For the
convenience of the artists, information sessions are hosted at various learning
and art institutions across the country, bringing them to the artist’s
doorstep.
The KZN information session is open to the public, as well as art
students and will be held in Durban on May 14 at 12h00 at the Durban University
of Technology, Video Technology Lecture Theatre 2, Ground Floor, City Campus,
Anton Lembede Street.
Space for
these sessions is limited and interested artists are encouraged to book their
seat with Nandi Hilliard on 012 346 3100 or 083 288 5117 or artspta@mweb.co.za as soon as possible.
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