King's bread dough creation and Makalima's 'similar struggles' forge through to next round.
Hard work is paying off for two East London artists whose artworks were chosen to go through to the national leg of the 29th Absa L'Atelier art competition.
Taryn King and Mziwoxolo Makalima beat about 30 hopeful artists who also entered the regional competition. On Thursday, the regional competition climaxed at the Ann Bryant Art Gallery, where King and Makalima were announced as part of the national top 100 in the finals.
King, who holds an honours degree in fine-arts from Rhodes University and is currently completing her masters, said this was the second time that she has entered the L'Atelier competition.
"I am so excited, I entered in 2012 where I also made it into the top 100. I am hoping that this year I make it to the top 10," said King.
She said that she only sent in one artwork which she made using bread dough which went well with the competition's theme this year of "blood, sweat and tears".
"Bread dough is unpredictable, you never know what you will get out and art is pretty much like that," she said.
King said the L'Atelier was not the only competition she had entered.
"I have entered various other competitions before, as well as exhibiting in Port Elizabeth.
"I have also exhibited three times at the National Arts Festival's student exhibition in Grahamstown," she said.
Makalima graduated from Walter Sisulu University with a BTech degree. He was part of the group that exhibited at the gallery last December.
"I sent in three of my artworks; if I could I would have sent all my work because I love all of it but we had a limit so I had to make that tough decision," said Makalima.
He said that the selected artwork was a mixed media piece, titled similar struggles.
"I am excited. This is the first time I entered this competition, so I feel good. Knowing the standard of my work I think I stand a good chance," he said.
The L'Atelier competition is run in conjunction with the South African National Association for the Visual Arts (Sanava) and has become an important fixture in the country's fine-arts industry.
Louis van Aswegen, Absa's regional manager said that the competition aims to celebrate young South African artists, while also providing them with opportunities to get exposure and a chance to live and develop their talents abroad, as all the prizes include a trip overseas.
This year's competition has four prizes: first prize, two merit awards and the Gerard Sekoto prize for most promising artist.
The first place win is a R150 000 cash prize from Absa, a studio apartment for six months residency at the Cite Internationale des Arts in Paris, as well as a solo exhibition upon returning to the country.
The one merit award includes a two-month residency at the Sylt Foundation on the Island of Sylt in Germany, a R5 000 per month stipend and R2 000 from Absa for trips to museums and travel costs in Hamburg.
The second merit award includes a one-month residency at the Ampersand Foundation in New York, where the winner will be recognised as a fellow of the foundation and have access to the American Association of Museums (AAM) card that allows free access to most museums in New York City. The prize includes return flights to New York City, $35 (11380) per day stipend and R2 000 from Absa.
The Gerard Sekoto award is valued at R80 000 and includes three months stay in the Cite Internationale des Arts, nationwide touring exhibitions, training in French and a commission for a poster for the exhibition.
A similar exhibition is currently on show in Port Elizabeth at the NMMU's north campus, in the Quad Gallery, until this Friday.
Caption: IN WITH A SHOUT: Artist Mziwoxolo Makalima whose artworks have been selected in the top 100 for the L'Atelier competition, he stands the chance of winning a trip to a prestigious art academy in France
Picture by: Mark Andrews
By: Zipo-Zenkasi Ncokazi
Article Source: Daily Dispatch