Krugersdorp resident joint second-place winner at Innibos National Craft Awards
Oageng's achievement was announced directly after the exhibition on 26 June
Steel and wood maestro Pierre Fourie entered a stunning work of art into the Innibos National Craft Awards competition and managed to win a joint second place.
The Krugersdorp resident is one of hundreds of craftsmen who have submitted their work for adjudication in this free-to-enter competition that recognises innovation and technical excellence. Pierre’s entry is a metal horse’s head that speaks of strength and movement.
The organisers of the awards decided to curate an online exhibition featuring all 60 short-listed works, rather than postpone the event until after the national coronavirus lockdown.
Inspired by the dashiki, a boldly patterned West African garment, Johannesburg resident Oageng Manana?s hand-made chest of drawers most impressed the judges of the 2020 Innibos National Craft Awards.
Oageng’s achievement was announced directly after the exhibition on 26 June. As overall winner of the annual competition, he pockets R50 000.
Pierre shared second place with Nelspruit’s Yolandi Diesel. Pierre’s horse’s head was crafted from hundreds of individual strands of 4mm steel round bar, while Yolandi entered an intricately hand-carved animal skull.
Third place went to Boksburg resident Clement Maenetja for his stunning range of ceramic plates, created to resemble the enamel plates of his youth. This year, four categories were added to the competition, thanks to the support of the National Department of Arts and Culture.
The categories recognise craftspeople who make a living from their talent and who use recycled or heritage material. The winners shared R165 000 in prize-money. The Mpumalanga Department of Culture, Sport and Recreation spokesperson Sibongile Nkosi said at the announcement of the winners that she was pleased the organisers of the awards had adjusted to the ‘new normal’ of life during the coronavirus pandemic by creating an enabling platform for the participants’ work to be acknowledged.
“We are thrilled to honour these artists for excellence and craftmanship,” said Standard Bank Innibos Arts Festival co-founder, Sandra Jacobs.
