The search has begun for South Africa’s new artistic talent in the annual Sasol New Signatures Art Competition 2024. The competition has served as a symbol for unrestricted creativity and artistic exploration in the country’s Visual Arts community for 34 years.
The slogan for the Sasol New Signatures 2024 campaign is Articulate. The concept celebrates the universal human desire for self-expression and connection and showcases how art can transcend barriers of language, culture, time, and background, allowing emerging artists to express their ideas and connect with others in infinite ways.
The competition welcomes entries from all South African artists of 18 years and older who have not yet had a solo exhibition. Artists who have had a solo exhibition for academic purposes (such as a Master’s degree exhibition) are also eligible to enter. Entries are accepted in various artistic mediums including painting, drawing, printmaking, sculpture, photography, video art, and installations. Artists are invited to submit artworks crafted in unique styles and unconventional techniques that defy traditional boundaries and expectations.
Potential entrants are encouraged to access the wealth of knowledge and information available on the Sasol New Signatures website to ensure that competition requirements and standards are met. Over the coming weeks, Pfunzo Sidogi (Chairperson) and Cate Terblanche (Sasol Art Curator) will host informative online sessions in which they discuss various important aspects relating to the competition, and artmaking in general. Accompanying downloadable fact sheets and other resources are available on the website to assist entrants in submitting their artworks.
An exciting development for 2024 is the addition of a new collection point in Potchefstroom. This will give emerging artists from the greater North-West Province region an avenue to showcase their talent and underscores the competition’s commitment to developing and celebrating the visual arts in all parts of the country.
The winners of the Sasol New Signatures Art Competition will be announced on Wednesday, 4 September 2024. The winner will receive R100 000 and the opportunity to hold a solo exhibition at next year’s exhibition at the Pretoria Art Museum. The runner-up will receive R25 000, and the five merit award winners will each walk away with R10 000.