Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Rotimi Ige
Published on 2024-02-23 03:50:59
The Norval Foundation and The Sovereign Art Foundation (SAF) recently announced the winner of the 2024 Norval Sovereign African Art Prize (NSAAP), with Amina Ageuznay being crowned the grand prize winner. The annual event, which was held as part of the VIP programming of the annual Investec Cape Town Art Fair, showcased the work of African artists and aimed to increase their exposure to an international audience.
Amina Ageuznay, a Moroccan artist, was named the grand prize winner for her work “Portal #1,” which features tactile and sensory natural materials including palm husk, untreated wool, and palm leaves. The piece originated from a collaboration with eco-architect and anthropologist Salima Naji to lead workshops for the women of Tissekmoudine, a settlement in southern Morocco. The workshops involved documenting the daily routines and spatial interactions of the participants, with the women’s sketches of doors being transformed into wool weavings by Agueznay.
The competition saw 374 entry works and 26 shortlisted finalist works, with Agueznay’s work being selected through a rigorous adjudication process by a panel of five global judges. As the grand prize winner, Agueznay will receive a cash prize of US$35,000, the opportunity for a solo exhibition at Norval Foundation, and an artist residency in London supported by Outset Contemporary Art Fund.
The other 26 finalists’ works will be auctioned off online by Sothebys, with the funds raised being split between the artists and the art education mission of the Norval Foundation. Sotheby’s senior Director of Modern and Contemporary African Art, Hannay O’ Leary, expressed the organization’s dedication to showcasing talent from across the African continent and supporting the ongoing educational work provided by the Norval Foundation.
The NSAAP entries were judged by a board of international art professionals, including Ashraf Jamal, Heba El Kayal, Marie-Ann Yemsi, Ngaire Blankenberg, and Sean O’Toole. Reflecting on the winner, judge Ashraf Jamal praised the choice of an artist with an enduring vision of the lives and triumphs of women of the African desert. He highlighted the diverse and exhilarating drives of the continent, emphasizing the role of artists in fulfilling Africa’s noble vision.
In addition, the NSAAP 2024 includes a Public Vote Prize, which will be awarded based on the highest number of public votes received at the end of the exhibition period. The public is invited to view the shortlisted works at Norval Foundation and vote for their preferred work, with the recipient receiving a $2000.00 cash prize.
The Norval Sovereign African Art Prize 2024, curated by Seth Kriger, will be open for viewing until May 2024. This prestigious award celebrates the practices of leading contemporary artists and contributes to the support and promotion of African art on the global stage.
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