Winners Circle

Suffocation is an ultra-realistic painting that shows a black plastic bag slowly engulfing a lush forest floor. This is a representation of how plastics are damaging the planet and inevitably suffocating those who inhabit it. Inspired by the Australian artist Robin Eley, the painting was done using acrylic paint on a hardboard. The strategically cut board and realistic-looking plastic create an illusion that draws in the viewer's attention allowing them to visually interact with the artwork and decipher the appearance of a 3D image on a 2D surface. This painting forms part of a body of work titled “Decay”, which highlights the ever-growing problem of pollution, and how it is often overlooked due to instant gratification and greed in our society.

Restoration is a painting that conveys the message of restoration, repairing or mending what has been broken or damaged in our lives. This artwork is inspired by daily living which offers success and joy, and trails and challenges. Our spirits are broken or damaged on multiple levels, firstly, by the people we love the most, secondly, by people who hate us, thirdly by the socio-political and economic system that governs the country, and lastly, by ourselves. Daily challenges try to break us into pieces, but we must always find a way to keep on picking up those pieces and mend them and become more beautiful than before. The pieces of glass that have been added to the image symbolise how we can mend ourselves to become stronger and more beautiful than before. These pieces also symbolise how African people can be united.

There is still time I is part of a series titled “Landscapes of Time”. This series of fibre and textile works of imaginary landscapes viewed from above represent life in progress and the passage of time. The uniform ribbon thread and the repetitive nature of the techniques used by the artist reinforce the consistent, rhythmic passage of moments. Using different stitching techniques, the artist differentiates between big life events and the seemingly mundane moments in between. Both are essential in creating the landscape but here the mundane is elevated as a type of commentary on a fast-paced society where little value is given to them. For the artist, this is where authentic ideas are born and where change can happen, where there’s time to connect with nature and one another. The use of texture and detail entices the viewer to take a closer look at how they spend their time, carving a uniquely scarred landscape. In this specific work the perception that “there is still time” is a comforting thought both personally and for society at large. Comfort and hope are conveyed through the use of soft materials, colour and a sense of space.