There are just 10 days left to view the amazing Sasol New Signatures 2019 exhibition at the Pretroria Art Museum. The 2019 competition was won by Pretoria student, Patrick Rulore, 24, who is currently completing a National Diploma in Fine Arts at the Tshwane University of Technology. 

Rulore won the coveted award for his oil on canvas work titled Stage 4 moments. In his painting, Rulore has captured the typical behaviour of his family during load shedding and 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. 

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

The runner-up for 2019 was Durban Master’s student Luyanda Zindela, with a pen, ink and graphite work on pine-board titled Phowthah sis’ Mgabadeli. In this work, he explores the limitless possibilities of a medium so readily available that it is often taken for granted.  As runner-up, he walks away with R25 000. 

The 5 Merit Award Winners are: 

• Nico Athene  (Johannesburg)
  • After After Party (Resurrection)
  • DiaMount
• Angelique Patricia Mary Bougaard (University of Johannesburg)
  • Crucified
  • Mixed media drawing on handmade paper
• Cecilia Maartens-Van Vuuren (Bloemfontein)
  • A presentiment
  • Dried roots 
• Kgodisho Moloto (Polokwane)
  • Disguise mask
  • Pot scrubs and wire 
• Mlamuli Eric Zulu (Durban)
  • Enlightened Art gathering
  • Mixed media 

Acclaimed artist, judge and Sasol New Signatures Chairperson Professor Pieter Binsbergen noted that in this 30th year of Sasol sponsoring South Africa’s longest-running art competition, , the winner and runner-up have both been recognised for works created in traditional media – ink and paint. He praised both works that have been painstakingly laboured and felt that the artists through their work showed immense drive and passion.

There are also 10 days left to view Jessica Storm Kapp’s (2018 Winner) first solo exhibition entitled Artefacts of Belonging at alongside the 80 pieces selected for the catalogue as part of her prize.