Absa L'Atelier KZN selected entries
by Francesca Verga
This year, the Absa L'Atelier Art Awards, celebrates 21 years of support and contribution to art in South Africa. This is possibly the longest running corporate sponsorship of the visual arts in the country, providing the opportunity for young artists to attend a three to six months residency at the Cité Internationale des Arts in Paris. Previous winners include Walter Oltmann, Diane Victor, Clive van den Berg, Sanell Aggenbach and Conrad Botes.
KZN entries for the competition were submitted and exhibited at artSPACE durban. As far as the hosting of the event is concerned, all the stops were pulled out. The eats, champagne and the décor for the reception, deserve a mention, although the event was significantly over catered.
The submissions amounted to a mere 30 works by a total of 10 artists. Although this was more than last year's entries, the submission numbers for the province are disappointingly low. This is surprising given the number of former winnes from KwaZulu Natal. Despite the fact works from fine arts student exhibitions were earmarked to be submitted for consideration a number did not bother to follow up on the offer. The works shown here go on to a national exhibition from which finalists and winners are chosen in June.
The artists chosen from KZN include Liezel Prins, Anet Norval, Clinton De Menezes, Derrick Mbili, Sibusiso Duma, Caryn Nolan and Peter Rippon.
