EKURHULENI documentary photographer Muntu Vilakazi walked away with the grand prize at the 30th Thami Mnyele Fine Arts Awards on Saturday.
The competition is an annual national contemporary fine arts awards and is considered as one of the top competitions in the country, with the prize money totalling R160 000.
The awards evening was held at Coen Scholtz Recreation Centre. Vosloorus-based Vilakazi won the R60 000 cash prize for his photographic triptych work which he named Imvuselelo, Inkonzo, Uhambo.
Through his work he focuses on black people and their relationship with the church and he aims to produce a qualitative, existential record of the lives of black people.
“I’m grateful for the opportunity to showcase my talent. I have never thought my work would be recognised as I always believed there were better artists than me,” said Vilakazi.
Lindokuhle Zwane of Benoni was awarded the Ekurhuleni prize for his work titled Imithetho Kababa (My Father and Them), which is about the journey of a young man who has to assume leadership without being groomed for the role and now he has to reflect on what he can remember from his father.
Zwane walked away with a R40 000 cash prize for his charcoal and acrylic on Fabriano paper artwork.
Lombardy West artist Manyatsa Monyamane walked away with two prizes at the awards: the Lizamore and Associates Mentorship Programme for which she gets a solo exhibition, and the Multi and New Media Merit Award, for which she will receive R15 000.
Monyamane’s artwork is titled Bab Sangweni, Sarah Simelane and Vusi Mkhube and through it he aims to create images that capture blackness in true circumstances that are relatable and relevant as well as celebrate the undying spirit of resilience of the truly unsung heroes of our land.
Other prize winners were Sarah Hunkin, who won the Art on Paper Merit Award for her Taxi 2017 work. Haifeng Xuan from Midrand won the Painting Merit Award for Still Life. Johannesburg and Centurion-based Vivien Kohler won the Sculpture Merit Award for FRGL.
MMC for Community Services Clr Dora Mlambo congratulated all participants and encouraged them to continue honing their skills in the art space.
“Never stop perfecting your artworks because you will never know who is watching you. As the city we pledge to continue to support this programme until it is internationally recognised,” said Mlambo.
The Thami Mnyele art exhibition may be viewed by the public free of charge at Coen Scholtz Recreation Centre in Birchleigh North until October 15 daily, including weekends, from 8am – 4pm.
