Guy Tillim wins DaimlerChrysler Art Award
by Sean O'Toole
Guy Tillim has been awarded the DaimlerChrysler Art Award for creative photography. Tillim was selected from a shortlist of eight photographers, the reportage photographer winning out over a strong body of work that pitted proponents of traditional photojournalism against a youthful grouping of photographers working in a highly conceptual manner.
The judges were however drawn to Tillim's unusual portrayal of strife-ridden conflict zones in Africa and the way his photographs eschewed the defining moment axiom of his genre in favour of images characterised by their lack of any definitive statement. His redemptive portrayal of conflict; his use of colour; as well as defining poetic were also singled-out by the seven-member judging panel.
Two photographers received honourable mentions. Jo Ractliffe received praise for a technically impressive body of work that challenged traditional assumptions of what constitutes a "good photograph". (There was much heated debate about her approach, especially in the face of resistance from an older generation of photographers.) Andrew Tshabangu in turn was hailed for his meticulous use of natural light, a characteristic particularly remarked upon by judges Alf Khumalo and Jurgen Schadeberg.
The announcement of Tillim's selection was made at a gala event at MuseumAfrica on Thursday, November 13 by chairperson of the judging panel, art critic and curator Rory Bester. A show featuring works by the eight finalists (including Angela Buckland, Jackob Doman, Brent Meistre, Steven Hobbs and Zwelethu Mthethwa) will run at Museum Africa until the end of January 2004.
