Absa L'Atelier celebrates its 20th anniversary and announces 2005 winners
by Robyn Sassen
The announcement of 2005's Absa L'Atelier winners on July 26 was celebrated with special enjoyment this year, not only because of the quality of the work and the acuity in the choices of the winners, but also to acknowledge the award having reached its 20th year. In the uncertain world of corporate sponsorships it is no mean feat to have weathered the tail end of the struggle and South Africa's emergence into democracy.
This makes L'Atelier the longest standing award in South African art history. No longer the richest in the country, its prize represents commitment to the history of western art, in the form of a stay in Paris for between three and six months at the Cité Internationale des Arts, along with free access to museums, and a visiting card to European art institutions. The award also offers R20 000 to each of four finalists and R1 000 to a top ten.
Gordon Froud, an independent Johannesburg gallerist, was appointed National Touring Judge for 2005. In this capacity, he lends the exhibition subtle, intellectually refined unity. The exhibition collectively manifests a leaning toward technical excellence. Competence is accented over trendy issues or expedient representation. Art is the final victor: there are no politically excluded artists or media that can still be deemed poor relatives of painting.
The diversity of media on the makes this a very satisfying exhibition. A blackish sense of humour is palpable in many of the works, making the heavy, serious Sturm und Drang, traditionally endemic to young artists, appear either bypassed or sidestepped. While there are video works and other pieces that need electricity or have earphones, most rely on traditional and improvised media, and less overtly on computer-based technology.
'Most artists seem to take the professional nature of the competition to heart', Froud commented, congratulating Berco Wilsenach and Lawrence Lemaoana, winners of the two top awards. On the judging panel with Froud were Theo Kleynhans from Cape Town, Kiren Thathiah from Johannesburg, Dominic Thorburn from Grahamstown and Helen Weldrick from East London. For the second year, the Gerard Sekoto award for the most promising artist, co-sponsored by Alliance Française was judged by an independent opinion - this year by contemporary local artist, Norman Catherine.
Wilsenach, at 31, is already known in art circles for his provocative take on the world. His winning entry reveals an aesthetic maturity, blending science with improvisation. A sense of musicality is patent in his Diadema Mathema, an eight-part work comprising dressmaking pins in deep red velvet cushions, boxed individually in glass. Each piece presents an elaborate pattern, the visual embodiment of eight different fractal equations.
A 20th century mathematical development, fractals highlight the relationship between natural phenomena and geometry and they underlie a regularity and decorativeness in nature. Pretoria-based Wilsenach uses ordinary objects like pins to present these visually and intellectually powerful concerns, and in doing so, articulates an ironic paradox, hinting at the supreme yet often overlooked beauty in everyday perceptions.
One of two untitled pieces by Johannesburg-based Lemaoana garnered not only one of the top four merit awards, but was chosen independently by Norman Catherine as the Gerard Sekoto winner. At 23, Lemaoana has equipped himself with some healthy credibility.
His work takes a refreshingly witty poke at the iconic status of South African rugby in particular and the construct of masculinity in general. It comprises a digitally enhanced photograph of a young black man with dreadlocks, dressed in a pink playsuit and posing as a rugby team. Its frame is hand sewn, and complete with a small pink springbok in the bottom right hand corner, the work is competent, humorous and subtle. It is this which demonstrates Lemaoana's ability to blend social criticism with aesthetic tomfoolery, making his statement powerful yet charming.
The other three merit award winners were Katherine Bull from Cape Town for a 20-part work in pigment on coated paper entitled Data; Patrice Mabasa from Thohoyandou for The fat man, a mixed media sculpture; and Mikhael Subotzky from Cape Town, for one of his extraordinary wide angle photographs from Pollsmoor prison, entitled Cell 508.
The other merit award winners were Hannah-Ada Lotz from Johannesburg, Brent Meistre from East London and Fritha Langerman, Francois van Reenen and Ed Young, all from Cape Town.
Opens: 26 July
Closes: 26 August
Absa Gallery
Absa Towers North, Upper Ground Level, 161 Main Street, Johannesburg
Tel: (011) 350 5139
Email: juliemc@absa.co.za
Hours: Mon - Fri 9.30am - 3.30pm
