Regional Judging completed across the country for the 2024 Sasol New Signatures Art Competition

A total of 1013 entries were submitted nationwide. Out of these submissions, 138 exceptional works have been selected to proceed to the final round of judging, which will take place at the Pretoria Art Museum in August. These chosen artworks will be featured in the competition’s catalogue for 2024 and showcased in an exhibition from 5 September to 3 November 2024 at the Pretoria Art Museum.

Sasol New Signatures Chairperson, Pfunzo Sidogi and Sasol’s Art Curator, Cate Terblanche embarked on a four-week judging roadshow. They visited a total of eight collection points across the country, including the newest addition, Potchefstroom. At each region, the pair were joined by a respected member of the Visual Arts community to provide contextualised perspective and expertise and assist in the judging process.

“The regional judges were exceptional in selecting only the top artistic talent from the regions. The discussions among the judges were always robust and fair, and the merits of each artwork were debated. Generally, the judges tended to be generous when deciding whether an artwork and/or artist’s statement with technical and/or conceptual questions should go through, which is in keeping with the developmental ethos of the competition,” said Pfunzo Sidogi, Chairperson, Sasol New Signatures Art Competition.

“Overall, we were impressed by the range and quality of the artworks submitted for the competition this year. It is a privilege to witness the best of what emerging visual artists from the country are creating. The inclusion of Potchefstroom as a new collection point in the North West Province was a huge success. 138 artworks were selected for the final judging round, which is the most since the competition’s inception,” said Cate Terblanche, Sasol’s Art Curator.

Sidogi mentioned that the judges encountered three tiers of artwork during the judging process. The first tier, which constituted the bulk of the submissions, included artworks produced by artists who are at the beginning of their artistic journeys or have started experimenting with a new medium or process. Unfortunately, these artworks often lacked the technical mastery and proficiency in technique required to be considered for the final judging round. “We were excited to see so many artworks of this nature because the competition has been set up precisely for novice artists to showcase and hopefully improve their artistic abilities,” he said.

The second tier of artworks seen were those where the technical aspects were resolved, and there were no obvious flaws in how the artworks were presented. When evaluating these artworks with solid technical proficiency, the judges placed a greater premium on the artist’s statement. “Regrettably, there were too many instances wherein an artwork was earmarked to be selected for the final round, but was later retracted because the artist’s statement did not match or fully align with the image/object. It is crucial for artists to synergise what is said in the artist’s statement with the actual images/symbols/objects in the artwork itself,” he continued.

The final tier of artworks encountered were those that immediately stood out due to their novelty, technical brilliance, and conceptual depth. These artworks evoked a shared “wow” response from all three judges. These artworks can easily hold their own at any major local or international art exhibition or fair.

To assist the entrants, the competition offered online information tutorial sessions, which proved to be beneficial for many participants. Many of the artists expressed their appreciation for these tutorials, especially those who lacked access to formal educational resources or were self-taught. The overall feedback regarding the online tutorials was positive, indicating a constructive impact on the artists’ skills and general assistance with entering the competition.

As the Sasol New Signatures Art Competition moves forward to its final judging round, anticipation grows for the announcement of the winners in September. The competition continues to serve as a platform for emerging artists to showcase their talents, gain exposure, and contribute to the ever-evolving art landscape of South Africa.

The organising team for the 2024 Sasol New Signatures Art Competition would like to thank the following regional judges for their generous contribution of their time, knowledge and expertise.

Bloemfontein: Yolanda de Kock (Acting Assisting Project Manager – Art Bank)

Cape Town: Kiveshan Thumbiran (Lecturer – Stellenbosch University)

Durban: Dr Mduduzi Xakaza (Director – Durban Art Gallery)

Gqeberha: Rachel Collett (Lecturer – Nelson Mandela University)

Johannesburg: Shonisani Netshia (Lecturer – University of Johannesburg)

Polokwane: Malose Pete (Independent Artist)

Potchefstroom: Nathani Lüneburg (Lecturer – North-West University)

Pretoria: Shenaz Mahomed (Lecturer – University of Pretoria)

For more information: www.sasolsignatures.co.za