Meet our judges: Raimi Gbadamosi

We've met up with one of our judges, Prof Raimi Gbadamosi, from the Department of Visual Arts at the University of Pretoria, to find out what he is expecting from this year's Sasol New Signatures competition.

What role do you think the Sasol New Signatures Competition plays in the world of South African Art?

‘Breaking' into the art world can be difficult for artists at all stages of their careers, but compounded for the younger artist seeking to make their initial inroads, Sasol New Signatures functions as both a filter and a showcase for the selected artists. Being one of the chosen artists for the exhibition also bolsters the confidence of these practitioners, telling them they have something to offer, and have the potential to make it as artists.

What will you be looking for when you judge the 2017 entries?

Innovation, confidence, consideration and mastery of their chosen medium, appreciation of their artistic ascendants, sensitivity and understanding of their underlying concerns, and challenge.

What are the current trends in SA art and what trends interest you?

I am not interested in trends; they will be the death of innovation, and the arts.

What advice can you give artists wanting to participate in the competition?

You could win the grand prize, or your work might not be selected for the exhibition. But remember that you are only as good as your last exhibition, laurels are deliberately organic, and they require constant renewal. You have to keep on thinking and making your work, this is what artists do!