Johann van der Schijff wins fourth GK Gross Trust Public Sculpture commission
Johann van der Schijff, a lecturer in New Media at UCT's Michaelis School of Fine Art, was last month declared the winner of the AVA-hosted GK Gross Trust Public Sculpture competition. Van der Schijff's entry, Arm Wrestle Podium, beat five other shortlisted competitors to clinch the prize of R30 000 plus R70,000 for the creation and installation of the work. It will be permanently situated on the patio of the AVA from 2007. Van der Schijff recenty held well received show at Bell-Roberts in Cape Town.
Van der Schijff's sculpture will act as a communal platform where disputes can be settled in view of the public by means of arm wrestling. The AVA said in a light-hearted media statement that the work could play an important part in resolving 'those nasty art world disputes that seem to be part and parcel of the scene'. It could also be used as a way to find closure on political disputes where negotiation had reached a stalemate; or simply as a platform to settle personal disputes of passers-by. 'Apart from possible stretched biceps, the result will not cause long-term injury to anybody if used according to the rules', the AVA added. Arm wrestling rules in English, Xhosa, Afrikaans and Braille will be inscribed on plaques on the sides of the podium.
The competition is the fourth in a series facilitated by the AVA and funded by the JK Gross Trust and Spier. The other shortlisted sculptors were: Andrew Porter, Jacques Dhont, Kevin Brand, Guy du Toit and Elizabeth Lacey. The judging panel included Farzanah Badsha, Willie Bester, Willem Boshoff, Stefan Hundt, Zwelethu Mthethwa and Sonja Spamer.
The first competition in this series was won by John Skotnes (Mythological Landscape at Thibault Square), followed by Brett Murray (Africa in St George's Mall) and joint winners Fritha Langerman and Katherine Bull (Come to Pass in St George's Mall).
