Sizwe Khoza (25) of KwaThema could not contain his excitement when he was announced the winner of the R100 000 first prize in the 2019 Thami Mnyele Fine Arts Awards.
The prize-giving ceremony was hosted at the Coen Scholtz Recreation Centre in Birchleigh North on September 28.
Khoza’s art piece, titled “Hold your head as high as you can”, depicts the challenges of a young man who has to assume a position of being an adult at an early age due to difficult situations in his household.
Sizwe uses lino/monotype and etching print as a medium to tell his story.
“I was going through a lot in my life when I started working on this art piece. I believe this work is different, even the effort I invested on it was multiplied because I believed in it and hoped that even if I couldn’t win the prize, it should at least bring hope to someone who would read the story that inspired the painting,” said Khoza.
There were 368 entries submitted for this year’s edition of the annual national Thami Mnyele Fine Arts Awards. Khoza’s artwork stood out.
The contemporary fine art competition cater for artists of all ages, producing various media artworks.
The prize money totalled R300 000, and other prize winners were:
Ekurhuleni Prize: Charles Mamerobela of Alberton, for a work titled “Power Struggle” (R65 000).
Lizamore and Associates Solo Exhibition and Mentorship Prize (given in association with Lizamore and Associates gallery): Oliver Mayhew.
The prize includes a six-month mentorship programme which will result in the selected artist having a solo show at the gallery.
The top 100 art pieces are on show at the Coen Scholtz Recreation Centre on Mooifontein Road until October 27.
