Pretoria student wins prestigious competition

Tshwane University of Technology student Patrick Rulore has won the 2019 Sasol New Signatures art competition.

The 24-year-old national diploma in fine arts student won the coveted award for his oil on canvas work Stage 4 moments.

In his artist statement, he said at the beginning of the year, coal shortages had resulted in power interruptions with electricity supply rationed in stages.

“This painting portrays stage 4, signifying that the electricity of a large sector of the community has been cut off”.

Rulore said he aimed to capture the typical behaviour of his family during load shedding.

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“The artwork celebrates the fact that all electrical devices are set aside during these blackouts, allowing the family to interact with each other, face to face, to talk, laugh and play games.”

“This painting does not complain about load shedding, it rather celebrates dark moments given by these circumstances.”

“As soon as the electricity comes back, we resume our earlier activities in isolation,” he added.

Rulore’s primary medium is paint and he uses both oils and acrylics.

“I am fascinated by the complexity of the human body and I attempt to discover its magic on the canvas.

“I always endeavour to capture the emotions and spirit of each individual I paint. To achieve this, I manipulate and play with colours, textures, paint and brush marks”.

As the winner of Sasol New Signatures, Rulore walks away with a cash prize of R100 000 and an opportunity for a solo exhibition at the Pretoria Art Museum in 2020.

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Acclaimed artist, judge and Sasol New Signatures Chairperson, Professor Pieter Binsbergen, said: “It is interesting to note that in this the 30th year of Sasol sponsoring the longest-standing art competition in South Africa, our winner and runner-up have both been recognised for works created in traditional media – ink and paint.

“The works have been painstakingly laboured and show immense drive and passion.

“It is fitting to acknowledge all the emerging artists who have participated in the competition over the past 30 years.”

Binsbergen said the majority of past winners had gone on to carve out illustrious careers in the visual arts and made significant contributions to the country’s artistic heritage.

Jessica Storm Kapp, 2018 Winner, joined by the 2019 finalists – including Rulore, will also present her solo exhibition entitled Artefacts of Belonging also at the Pretoria Art Museum.

All the 80 finalists are also included in the highly respected competition catalogue.

The exhibition will run until 29 September.

*This article has been amended, with the correct photograph of the winner added. 

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