Local Grahamstown resident Nyaniso Lindi won a prestigious international award for aspiring artists and will jet off to Paris as a result.
Local Grahamstown resident Nyaniso Lindi won a prestigious international award for aspiring artists and will jet off to Paris as a result.
Lindi beat out more than 100 finalists following rigorous regional judging rounds at galleries around the country.
Established in 1985, the Absa L’Atelier Art Awards provides an opportunity for local South African artists to gain international recognition as well as develop their talents abroad. The 35-year-old artist was awarded the much coveted second prize, the Gerard Sekoto Award for the most promising artist.
The prize includes a three-month sabbatical at the Cité Internationale des Arts in Paris, French language classes, and a national touring exhibition sponsored by the French Embassy, French Institute and Alliance Française. Also included are the cost of airfares and access to galleries and museums in Paris, giving young artists the opportunity to develop their talents and gain exposure to the international art community.
Lindi, who presently works as a studio attendant in printmaking at the Department of Fine Arts at Rhodes University, has always been driven by a passion for art and creativity. He is currently completing his Bachelor of Fine Arts at Rhodes University and although he may still be a student, this mature artist has been around – gaining entrance into the world of art through more than his degree. He is now been given the chance to broaden his artistic repertoire through the L’Atelier Art Awards.
"It is difficult to say what winning means to me, I suppose it is a way of adding value to what I have been doing over the years; it will impact on my artistic expression in terms of scale and technical ability."
Inspired and challenged
Lindi has also found inspiration through the experiences and challenges he faces as an emerging artist.
"I find it interesting when well known artists come over and work with us locally, Vusi Khumalo was particularly inspiring as he is a local artist who is internationally renowned."
Although he acknowledges the challenge of trying to balance his artistic ambition with the theoretical requirements of his degree, he has learnt much from the academic structure his degree provides.
"The students I work with also inspire me, I give to them but I also receive. More than that, I learn about work ethic with an emphasis on professionalism."
The artwork selected for the exhibition was a colour reduction print entitled Tribute to Noria Mabasa. Lindi based the piece on an earlier work of the Venda artist and through this gives recognition to one of South Africa’s living pioneer artists. Mabasa is a sculptor who creates artworks based on mythology and dreams, much like Lindi does.
The Rhodes Fine Art Department also boasts two previous winners of the Sekoto Award – Nomusa Makhubu and Billy Zangewa, as well as a merit award by Samkelo Bunu and first prize by the current acting head of department, Dominic Thorburn.
