May 22, 2006
By Thuli Ntuli
FLEETING images of traditional clothes - belt around the waist, sandals on the floor - are juxtaposed with urban wear to create a complex statement of the human condition in artist Mlungisi Zondi's piece, Silhouette.
The sculpture, along with works by four other artists, is on display at the Johannesburg Art Gallery. Zondi is this year's winner of the MTN Contemporary Art Award, receiving R50 000 for his efforts. The four other finalists received a cellphone and R5 000 each.
According to the gallery's curator of contemporary arts, Khwezi Gule, Silhouette "depicts the way in which people look at urban life".
It shows the lower half of the human form, with a rope belt - mimicking the beaded belts worn around the waist by people living in rural areas. The figure is clothed in clear plastic, while on the floor Zulu sandals are scattered around and to one side are the urban suits of the city.
While looking at the sculpture, the viewer is able to watch footage of images that inspired the artist - the ceaseless dancing feet of the mapantsula.
On entering the exhibition space, the bright colours of Julia Rosa Clark's Lalaland piece catch the eye, with its bright rainbow image surrounded by gold stars and a glitzy, bright red umbrella-like image with little pictures of a piano, a book, a candle and other details.
On the right-hand side of the exhibition hall are the works of James Webb. He has pasted skulls juxtaposed with red hearts on maps of Africa.
The artists do not enter themselves for the awards, but are selected for entry. This year Gule chose the five finalists; he said he visited studios across South Africa to compile the list.
However, he left it to the five independent judges to choose the winner. They were Zayd Minty, a cultural producer and curator; Melissa Mboweni, a curator and writer; Nathi Gumede, the provincial chairman of the Visual Arts Network of South Africa; Clive Kellner, the director of the Johannesburg Art Gallery; and Phillippa Hobbs, the MTN Art Collection curator.
The exhibition ends on Thursday, 25 June. The awards were first made in 2001. For more information about the exhibition call Khwezi Gule on 011 725 3130 or email khwezig@joburg.org.za.
The Johannesburg Art Gallery is at King George Street, between Wolmarans and Noord streets, Joubert Park, Johannesburg.
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