Artist: How to choose the right artwork to enter

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Winning the Sasol New Signatures Art Competition is something every up-and-coming artist strives for.

“Every year we receive hundreds of entries, but sadly, only a few of these works are chosen to go through to the finals, and only seven of these receive the top accolades,” says Cate Terblanche, Art Curator, Sasol Art Collection

“I have seen the heartache experienced by so many young artists when their artworks are not selected and want to offer some advice for those considering entering the competition.”

Cate offers a few things to keep in mind when you are choosing artworks to enter:

  1. Your choice of artwork/s to submit is the first and most crucial decision you need to make. Your artwork will be representing you, who you are as a person, your skills and artistic ability, your thinking and your values, so make sure that you are very critical about the work you choose to enter. Do not choose a work based purely on your own affinity for it, but rather base it on what you want to share with the judges, and ultimately the public at large.
  2. Keep in mind that our judges are looking to award the winning prize to an up-and-coming artist who shows potential to sustain a productive career in the art industry. Therefore, the work/s you choose to submit must not only showcase your creative thinking, your artistic talents and skills, but also the potential to translate into a solo show, as well as a sustained career in the arts.
  3. I would encourage you to browse through the previous editions of the online catalogues available on the website to familiarise yourself with the types of works which have been selected in previous years. Use this as a comparative guide to judge your own work, but avoid submitting works which are just uninspired duplicates of works from previous years.
  4. While the judges acknowledge that emerging artists don’t necessarily have the expertise and skills of a more established artist and allow some leeway in this respect, they generally agree that the works should adhere to the following standards:
    • Regardless of the media used, the artist should show an above-average understanding of their craft. Technical execution is vital. Most works are eliminated in the regional rounds due to a lack of technical skill.
    • Many emerging artists struggle with formulating appropriate artist statements, but the artist should be able to articulate their ideas in a way that logically relates to the artwork. The artwork should provide the viewer with a thought, idea or concept over and above the visual aspects.
    • The work should demonstrate some level of originality, creative thinking and innovation.
  1. You are allowed to submit two artworks, subject to the criteria mentioned in the entry form. This can either work in your favour or against you. If you wish to showcase your ability to work in different media, ensure that the works ‘speak’ to each other on some level. Remember, the judges are looking for works which could translate into a solo exhibition, and this demonstrates that possibility. You may decide to enter two radically different works, but if you do, remember to treat them separately in your artist’s statement.
  2. If you choose to enter two similar works, ensure that there is a narrative or conceptual link between the works. Many entrants make the mistake of submitting two works which do not differ much in technique or content, for instance, two similar portraits both using the same medium, for example, pen and ink. Unless the works are conceptually linked (in other words you’ve explained the link in the artist’s statement), submitting two versions of the same type of work does not usually attract a favourable outcome.
  3. If you are currently producing a body of work for a degree at an art institution, be aware that the work you enter will be viewed outside of the context it has been produced in, and without the support of other artworks in the series or exhibition. You, therefore, need to consider how the work will function on its own. Think about whether that specific artwork can convey the message on its own. Do not just choose a random work from the series and hope that it will be understood, sometimes it is not the most visually appealing work which conveys this, but rather the work which most accurately speaks to the message you are wanting to convey. Also, remember to adapt your artist’s statement to reflect the specific issues the work/s deal with.

The Sasol New Signatures Art Competition 2022 is open to all South African artists over 18 years who have not yet held a solo exhibition. Artists who have held a solo exhibition for academic purposes (a Master’s degree exhibition) are also allowed to enter. All you need is to submit up to two artworks in all artistic mediums, including photography, performance art, video and installations.

Here is where you can enter from June 7 and June 8 from 10am to 4pm:

  • Bloemfontein: Oliewenhuis Art Museum, 16 Harry Smith Street, Bloemfontein
  • Cape Town: AVA (Association for Visual Arts Gallery), 35 Church Street, Cape Town
  • Durban: KZNSA Gallery, 166 Bulwer Road, Glenwood, Durban
  • Johannesburg: FADA Building, Department of Visual Arts, University of Johannesburg, Bunting Road Campus, Auckland park, Johannesburg

* All entrants submitting work at FADA will be required to present a COVID-19 vaccination card, a digital vaccination card or a picture of their vaccination card clearly indicating name and ID number on entering the campus. If unvaccinated, entrants may also present a negative Covid-19 test (48 hours or less).

  • Polokwane: The Polokwane Art Museum, Library Gardens, corner Grobler & Hans van Rensburg Street, Polokwane
  • Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth): NMU Bird Street Gallery – Nelson Mandela University, Bird Street Campus, 20 Bird Street, Central, Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth)
  • Pretoria: Pretoria Art Museum, corner Francis Baard (previously Schoeman) and Wessels Streets, Arcadia Park, Pretoria

The winner of the Sasol New Signatures Art Competition will be announced on Wednesday, August 24 2022. The winner will receive R100 000 and a solo exhibition at next year’s exhibition.

The winning works will also be displayed at the Pretoria Art Museum from August 25 to October 2 2022. The runner up will receive R25 000 and the five merit award winners will each walk away with R10 000.

Details: www.sasolsignatures.co.za or Nandi Hilliard from the Association of Arts Pretoria on 012-346-3100 or [email protected]

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