The regional judging phase of the 2024 Sasol New Signatures Art Competition has just wrapped up across South Africa.
There were 1,013 entries from artists nationwide. Out of these, 138 works were selected to move to the final judging round. This final round will be held at the Pretoria Art Museum in August.
The selected artworks will be featured in the competition’s 2024 catalogue and showcased in an exhibition from September 5 to November 3, 2024, at the Pretoria Art Museum.
Pfunzo Sidogi, Chairperson of Sasol New Signatures, and Cate Terblanche, Sasol’s Art Curator, led the judging. They travelled to eight collection points across the country, including Potchefstroom, which was a new addition this year. At each stop, they were joined by a local visual arts expert.
“The regional judges did a great job picking the top talent. The discussions were always lively and fair. We wanted to give artists with technical or conceptual questions a chance, which fits the competition’s developmental goals,” said Pfunzo Sidogi.
“We were impressed by the variety and quality of the entries. It’s a privilege to see what emerging artists in South Africa are creating. Adding Potchefstroom as a collection point was a big success. We selected 138 artworks for the final round, the most in the competition’s history,” added Cate Terblanche.
Sidogi noted three tiers of artwork during the judging. The first tier consisted of works by beginners or those experimenting with new mediums. These often lacked technical skill and didn’t make it to the final round. “We’re excited to see many works like these because the competition is set up for novice artists to showcase and improve their skills,” he said.
The second tier included technically proficient artworks where judges focused more on the artist’s statement. “Too often, good artworks were dropped because the artist’s statement didn’t match the artwork. It’s crucial for artists to align their statements with their work,” Sidogi continued.
The final tier featured works that stood out for their novelty, technical brilliance, and conceptual depth. These pieces impressed all the judges and could easily be shown in major art exhibitions.
To help entrants, the competition offered online tutorial sessions. Many artists appreciated these, especially those without formal education or self-taught artists. The feedback was positive, showing the tutorials had a constructive impact.
As the competition moves to its final judging round, there’s growing anticipation for the winners’ announcement in September. The Sasol New Signatures Art Competition continues to be a platform for emerging artists to showcase their talents and gain exposure in South Africa’s art scene.
For more information, visit www.sasolsignatures.co.za.
