Yolanda de Kock, Acting Project Manager, Art Bank of South
How did you find the judging process?
The judging process was well organized and smooth. It was an uplifting experience judging with Pfunzo and Cate.
Any standout themes you picked up?
A lot of artists were dealing with themes pertaining to loss, identity, personal experiences within their own environments that left an imprint on them that lead to critical discussions for the judges.
Standout media?
Multi-media, photography, and installation art.
Any advice to those who did not make it through to the final judging?
Artists should focus on the final execution of artworks to make the work pristine and presentable. Many artists did not make it to the second round due to this matter. Artist statements were elongated essays that is not referring to the artwork itself. A shorter, concise explanation would benefit the artist more.
Your thoughts on the role Sasol New Signatures plays in the art ecosystem in SA.
This competition is setting a benchmark for young artists to improve their practice but also seeing their work amongst other artists across all provinces. The feedback sessions are extremely valuable for artists, for those who made it to the second round and those who did not make it. This is more than a competition, it is also a valuable opportunity for artists to learn and push themselves more.
