Turiya Magadlela has been announced as the 2015 FNB Art Prize Winner. The artist will present a large-scale installation for the 2015 FNB Joburg Art Fair.
For her most recent body of work, Kaffersheet, Magadlela juxtaposes the traditional Xhosa cloth of the same name, with prison uniform cloth. She states:
“‘Kaffersheet’ is the name of the traditional Xhosa cloth, normally white or cream, you can buy at any fabric shop. I use it as a title for this series. For me it represents the clothing of Xhosa kings and queens.
Xhosa kings, chiefs and prophets, Langalibalele (imprisoned at Robben Island), Makhanda (Makana or Nxele) (imprisoned at Robben Island), Ndlambe, Hintsa, Maqoma, Phalo, Sandile, Makhondo, Nonqhawusa (imprisoned at Robben Island), etc., are some of the leaders that were imprisoned in the 1800s. Today, prisons are full of thieves, and ordinary people like me and you. Many of us would be in jail if the officials saw all the crimes we do daily, we are out of jail because we haven’t been caught yet … You can either sleep in your Woolworths sheets or in prison sheets; one can never tell of a time when physical freedom is lost. So with thoughts of all criminals since the 1800s, I paint these sheets.”
The FNB Art Prize was launched in 2011. All galleries participating in the Art Fair are given the opportunity to nominate one of their artists for consideration to our panel of judges. The winning artist receives a cash prize as well as the opportunity to showcase their work in a dedicated space at the FNB Joburg Art Fair.
Turiya Magadlela, ‘Kaffersheet’. Installation view: Johannesburg Art Gallery
