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Johannesburg - The SPI National Portrait Award 2013 exhibition opened at the University of Johannesburg Art Gallery on Wednesday night.
The award, initiated by Sanlam Private Investments in collaboration with the Rust-en-Vrede Gallery in Durbanville, attracted nearly 1 800 entries by 1 200 artists for final adjudication earlier this year.
The prize of R100 000 was awarded to Heather Gourlay-Conyngham, a Durban born artist for an oil on canvas portrait of her son titled ‘A Young Man’.
Modelled on the London based National Portrait Gallery, BP Portrait Award, the competition invited entries in any medium with the exclusion of lens based media such photography, television and film.
The independent panel of three adjudicators consisted of Hayden Proud, curator for Historical Painting and Sculptures at the Iziko SA National Gallery in Cape Town, Vulindlela Nyoni, a lecturer in printmaking at the University of Stellenbosch, and artist and art teacher Susanne du Toit, who recently scooped the prestigious 2013 BP Portrait Award.
“Moving into a new era of freedom, South African artists are exploring their unique individuality for which the portrait is a particularly suitable vehicle,” said the convener of the panel, Stefan Hundt, who is also curator of the Sanlam Art Collection and head of Sanlam Private Investments Art Advisory Service.
“It is this practice that the SPI National Portrait Award and exhibition would like to nurture while acknowledging the country’s diversity and excellence.”
The 40 paintings that make up the exhibition will be on show at the UJ Gallery until November 13.
The exhibition moves to Stephan Welz & Co at the Alphen Estate in Constantia, from November 26 to January 10 2014 before being hosted by the KwaZulu-Natal Society of Arts during April 2014
“Portraiture has played a defining role in capturing the mood and prevailing social norms of the time,” said Daniel Kriel, CEO of Sanlam Private Investments.
“In South Africa the art genre has had a rich, and at times controversial, history that reflects the country’s social and political evolution.”
He said it was within this context that Sanlam was proud to partner with Rust-en-Vrede Gallery to create the first South African National Portrait Award.
“We know art is a passion for many of our clients,” said Kriel, “and it is of increasing investment interest. We aim to be instrumental in encouraging the emergence of new local artistic talent, which we believe this competition will do.”
- Fin24
The award, initiated by Sanlam Private Investments in collaboration with the Rust-en-Vrede Gallery in Durbanville, attracted nearly 1 800 entries by 1 200 artists for final adjudication earlier this year.
The prize of R100 000 was awarded to Heather Gourlay-Conyngham, a Durban born artist for an oil on canvas portrait of her son titled ‘A Young Man’.
Watch to see the full painting
Modelled on the London based National Portrait Gallery, BP Portrait Award, the competition invited entries in any medium with the exclusion of lens based media such photography, television and film.
The independent panel of three adjudicators consisted of Hayden Proud, curator for Historical Painting and Sculptures at the Iziko SA National Gallery in Cape Town, Vulindlela Nyoni, a lecturer in printmaking at the University of Stellenbosch, and artist and art teacher Susanne du Toit, who recently scooped the prestigious 2013 BP Portrait Award.
“Moving into a new era of freedom, South African artists are exploring their unique individuality for which the portrait is a particularly suitable vehicle,” said the convener of the panel, Stefan Hundt, who is also curator of the Sanlam Art Collection and head of Sanlam Private Investments Art Advisory Service.
“It is this practice that the SPI National Portrait Award and exhibition would like to nurture while acknowledging the country’s diversity and excellence.”
Watch the interview
The 40 paintings that make up the exhibition will be on show at the UJ Gallery until November 13.
The exhibition moves to Stephan Welz & Co at the Alphen Estate in Constantia, from November 26 to January 10 2014 before being hosted by the KwaZulu-Natal Society of Arts during April 2014
“Portraiture has played a defining role in capturing the mood and prevailing social norms of the time,” said Daniel Kriel, CEO of Sanlam Private Investments.
“In South Africa the art genre has had a rich, and at times controversial, history that reflects the country’s social and political evolution.”
He said it was within this context that Sanlam was proud to partner with Rust-en-Vrede Gallery to create the first South African National Portrait Award.
“We know art is a passion for many of our clients,” said Kriel, “and it is of increasing investment interest. We aim to be instrumental in encouraging the emergence of new local artistic talent, which we believe this competition will do.”
- Fin24
