Heritage Art Awards given by Kizo Art Gallery
by Carol Brown
Esther Mahlangu, Andrew Verster, Vusi Ximba, May Radebe, David Rattray and Kessie Govender are all masters of their craft and exceptional human beings who have made a substantial contribution to the preservation of our heritage, and were honoured as such at an event to commemorate Heritage Day at Kizo Art Gallery.
Mahlangu, one of the country's most recognised and celebrated artists, has won numerous awards throughout her lengthy career. These include ranking 11th in the world in 1991's Art Car Competition alongside the likes of Frank Stella, David Hockney and Roy Lichtenstein. In 2006 she was recognised for her contribution to South Africa and the arts by the president Thabo Mbeki when he presented her with The Order of Ikhamanga - Silver Award. This year has seen Mahlangu flying to Italy to paint the new Fiat.
A vibrant and prominent character in the art world, Verster needs little introduction. He is currently showing work as a finalist on the Sasol Wax Exhibition at the Johannesburg Art Gallery and also has some wax pieces on view at the Heritage Arts Exhibition at Kizo Art Gallery.
Ximba, originally from Mandeni, is now based in Wartburg outside Pietermaritzburg and is a legendary icon in KwaZulu-Natal. This accordionist and singer has adapted elements of maskanda and township jive to shape his own distinctive style of music, and a string of successful recordings demonstrate his popular appeal. Known for his sharp and sometimes bawdy wit, which resulted in some of his material being banned on radio, Ximba's home-grown musical tales meld and mould together urban and rural traditions.
Rattray was a man who dedicated his life to the people and country we all call home. He re-invigorated our history, bringing it vibrantly to life by telling the compelling stories of the many human faces of the old history of the battlefields region. He was a catalyst in the development of the Battlefields Tourism in South Africa, and put the story of the new South Africa and her people's complex past into the forefront of the minds of people around the world. His exposure to Zulu oral tradition and his his excellent library left him uniquely equipped for his vocation as a raconteur. His talks enthralled and captivated people from all walks of life, from princes to school children. Rattray was shot and killed in a failed robbery attempt at his lodge in Fugitives' Drift in Zululand this year.
Govender was an actor, playwright, director, musician and artist. He was born in Durban, the grandson of an indentured labourer, and one of the province's first pioneers in the theatre world, not afraid to voice his opinions in an often violent and threatening environment. He was first introduced to the theatre in the early 1960s, when it bore no relation to the lives of most South Africans, not reflecting indigenous language or humour, with nothing to say about the issues of the day. Together with Ronnie Govender and a small group of others they established the first non racial Shah Theatre Academy, which ran workshops to encourage and train young actors and writers to fill the gap in the local drama scene. His work as a playwright, director and actor was not only relevant but also of great artistic merit. His contribution to South African society and theatre in particular was outstanding. He died of a heart attack in 2002.
Each winner took home an original ceramic award to the value of R2000 provided by Kizo Art Consultants and a R10 000 cash prize sponsored by Independent Newspapers.
