Judges Q&A - Elfriede

Share your thoughts on being selected as part of the judging panel for Sasol New Signatures 2021

The panel was very well put together and provided a cross section of expertise on various levels in art practice, history and theory, and the professional arts sector. 

Sasol New Signatures is well-established as part of our national landscape - have you been a keen follower over the years? 

Yes

How did you find the judging process of Sasol New Signatures. 

Highly professional, fair, balanced and thorough. 

What are your thoughts of the overall standard of the entries in 2021. 

Very similar to previous years; it is an entry level competition and open to all age groups, therefore the work varies a lot. But the standard is good. 

Any stand out themes, mediums etc. 

A lot of work dealt with identity and the self, probably as a result of covid 19 and the turn inward. Good photography and mixed media work. 

In your opinion what role do competitions of this nature in play in terms of developing and identifying local talent? 

A huge role; upcoming and budding artists need to be seen and experienced and when selected, it provides a much needed confidence boost. 

What advice would you give emerging artists to assist them in furthering their careers here in SA or abroad. 

Keep on producing and researching, regardless. Some or other time it will produce results. Keep an eye out for opportunities; cultivate your professional network; and don’t lose hope. 

What impact do you think the pandemic has had on the art world both here in SA and abroad?

A major impact. The fact that several galleries had to close made the arts scene shrink and exhibition opportunities diminish. Almost no artist received incentive funding from government in support. As a result many artists have started looking for alternative avenues in the international arena. 

What advice would you give art collectors?  

Buy what you like, but also acquire information on current art discourses and trends, and familiarise yourself with the artist. Look for sustainability, that is, buy from an artist who is not a fly-by-night.  

If you could wave a magic wand and own any piece of South African Art - what would you choose and why? 

A sculpture of Willem Boshoff; firstly because I admire the organic quality and textures in his work; secondly because I like highly conceptual work; and thirdly because he is an excellent investment being a sustainable artist. 

About Elfriede

Elfriede has been working in the South African arts sector for more than 30 years as an artist, curator, gallerist and academic. Her areas of focus in the visual arts are utopianism; space and place; and digital culture. Her work has been taken up in major art collections of the Universities of Pretoria and South Africa; Telkom; the Development Bank of Southern Africa; FNB; and various private collections. She participated in group exhibitions at major museums, galleries and festivals throughout the country; she was a finalist in most national competitions, including the Brett Kebble Award; and she held solo exhibitions in Pretoria, Johannesburg, Paris and Oudtshoorn.

Academic career

Elfriede has been affiliated with the University of South Africa as Extraordinary Professor in Art since 2015. Formerly she lectured full-time at Unisa from 1990 to 2003 where she was also Head of Department for four years. From 2003 to 2014 she lectured full-time at the University of Pretoria as Professor in both Fine Arts and Art History and specialised in postgraduate studies. She was the Academic Dean at the Open Window Institute from 2014 to 2015 and worked as a museum scientist for the Art Bank of  South Africa in 2019. She published widely in local and internal academic journals and  books; she was a gallerist for 11 years besides ad hoc curatorial projects, nationally and internationally; and continues to adjudicate at most of the national competitions such Absa l'Atelier, Sasol New Signatures, The Sanlam Portrait Award and others. She was NRF rated in 2012 and again in 2018. More info: https://www.elfriededreyer.com/