Sasol New Signatures 2017
Freedom of expression is what the people are missing, however that is the platform Sasol has provided for emerging South African artists.
Creativity, mental expansion and nurturing of talent, form the foundation of the competition. The Sasol New Signatures competition - held at the historical Pretoria Art Museum - presented a select few artists whose work incorporated the abovementioned criteria or components wrapped with a profound message within it.
Among the greats of yesteryear, Artists Like Lebohang Kganye (overall winner), Stephenjwa H. Luthuli (runner up), Francke G. Crots (merit award),
Goitseone B. Moerane (merit award), Carol A. Preston (merit award), Emily H. Bülbring Robertson (merit award), Cara-jo Tredoux (merit award) - all possessed the qualities that matched the criteria of the competition, each with a unique way of expressing themselves or their background stories (see brief description below).
Ke sale teng by Lebohang Kganye,
An animated film on how family photo albums no longer have a fixed narrative but allow us to 'reinterpret our past'. She recalls researching her family history which seemed to have a space of contradictions (truth and fiction), thus having to rely on the family photo album as a means of understanding what family is meant to be.
An observation and in-depth analysis of premodern and postmodern society. Sthenjwa looked into the 'cultural politics' with respect to Zulu traditional rituals in a contemporary family setting and compares practices of a prehistoric era within Nguni cultural procedures which are implemented for one to claim their identity.
Doctor Crots's fucked up anatomy by Francke Gretchen Crots
A ceramic book that contains depictions (representations) of the severity of the human body and anatomy in a less severe way.
The books gives a sort of paradigm shift in how the human body could be seen as an object in our day and age. In it there are medical and scientific facts packaged in humorous way, to remind the human that it is replaceable and unimportant like a mere object.
An exploration of her identity as modern black female in the Tswana culture. Furthermore she explains 'my works usually consist of subjective explorations which juxtapose my appreciation of my culture and my black feminist criticism of it simultaneously'. The work dwells further into the violence and oppression against black women throughout history -through photographic cutouts, digital manipulation as well as a Shweshwe cloth.
Note: The Shweshwe cloth (a outfit) served as a metaphor for how women have such restricted roles, be it as a mother, a wife or a makoti, a provider etc.
The installation is mechanism and stand composed of various metal shavings. The outer 'shell' harbours an inner hidden violence as it shudders - which, ultimately suggests a life form within. It is also a representation of the present volatility and revolutionary change(s) in South Africa.
Note: It is hung at eye level and at an angle, which adds discomfort as it sheds pieces of its content.
The works are two of a serious of 11 inventions, products and stratagems I have created. Their appearance was aimed at users with conformed stereotypes of existing gender roles of woman.
It is indirectly deals with 'appearance and fakery'. She used specific materials and methodologies with touches of satire and humour to bring across of female stereotypes - performing roles seen or deem as ladylike.
It exposes outdated notions within Western society.
'This project and these works are me, trying to be an acceptable woman in our society'.
I believe oppression is oppression no matter our racial and social backgrounds.
It was inspired by an abandoned hospital in Kempton Park. Fascinated by how it was abandoned for 20 years without a trace.
It had remnants of x-rays and patient files that still haunt the shelves of the hospital and although abandonit has sort of assumed a life of its own.. besides the plants that have conquered the man-made structured.. something else lurks within the hallways 'the others' who never left the hospital.
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