Crafted from a red shweshwe dress, reminiscent of a family heirloom, the deconstruction and reconstruction of the fabric allows a new design to emerge from the mass of dots. (Norval Sovereign Prize for African Art)
- The artist’s work focuses on abstraction, repetition, and design, to create layered, multidimensional installations.
- Represented by SMAC Gallery, Kavula is the first ever winner for contemporary artists from Africa and its diaspora.
- They were selected from a list of 30 artists from 18 countries.
The Norval Foundation and The Sovereign Art Foundation (SAF) have declared Bonolo Kavula the winner of the Norval Sovereign African Art Prize for his work tswelopele. The artist’s work focuses on abstraction, repetition, and design, to create layered, multidimensional installations. Dressed in a red shweshwe dress, reminiscent of a family heirloom, the deconstruction and reconstruction of the fabric allows him to emerge a new design from the mass of dots, leaving space for the viewer to interpret the work as they wish.
Kavula, represented by SMAC Gallery in Cape Town, is the first winner of this annual prize for contemporary artists from Africa and its diaspora. They were selected from a list of 30 artists hailing from 18 countries, of which South Africa has the strongest representation, followed by Zimbabwe, Angola, Morocco and Nigeria.
In addition to the title and cash prize of R500,000, Kavula will be offered the opportunity to hold a solo exhibition at the Norval Foundation, featuring the winning entry. Also, after capturing the attention of the public who voted in the exhibition and online, René Tavares, from This Is Not A White Cube, Luanda and Lisbon, and Galeire Alex Serra, Colonia receives the Public Vote Award and R25,000 for her piece ‘Sóia dona um, 2021, retratos pra Inglês ver – séries’. A work in which the plantations of São Tomé and the period after the abolition of slavery remind us of a historical past that is important to recover and take into account.
A board of 53 independent arts professionals, made up of curators and scholars who work closely with artists in their respective regions, nominated 158 artists for the Prize. The 30 finalists were shortlisted by a judging panel of five world-class art specialists, namely: writer, museum curator and director David Ellio; Director of Exhibitions, Al Maaden Museum of Contemporary African Art, Janine Gaëlle Dieudji; Curator, Norval Foundation, Khanya Mashabela; the exhibition curator and contemporary art consultant, Marie-AnnYemsi; and Managing Director and Director of the London Design Museum, Tim Marlow.
The awards were presented in a private event in the presence of the shortlisted exhibition jury at the Norval Foundation, Cape Town on 15 February 2022. The public is invited to view the shortlisted works of art in the exhibition, which is open from 9 am to 5 pm except Tuesdays) until February 28, 2022 inclusive.
The Prize is intended to raise significant funds for the shortlisted artists and for the Norval Foundation Educational Program, as proceeds from the sale will be split equally between the Foundation and the artists.
Anna Lejerskar, President of the Learn for Life Foundation, the non-profit arm of EON Reality, commented on the partnership:
“Creativity is seen as the driving force behind innovation, as a fuel to inspire and enrich. For EON Reality, the parallels between art and technology are self-evident, both providing the means to learn about ourselves and the world in new and different ways, and an invitation to rethink and reinvent.
EON Reality, through its non-profit arm Learn for Life Foundation, is proud to sponsor the Norval Sovereign African Art Award in a cause that is closely aligned with the organization’s commitment to education, the arts and the community. .
The cooperation between the Learn for Life Foundation and the Norval Sovereign African Art Prize marks our shared vision to harness the power of creativity and empower the dreams of generations to come.”
Hannah O’Leary, Director of Modern and Contemporary African Art at Sotheby’s, commented:
“The Norval Sovereign African Art Prize not only provides a wonderful opportunity for the artists involved, but also highlights the vibrant and boundary-pushing art communities in Africa and the diaspora for the benefit of an audience around the world. Right at the end of the exhibition in Cape Town, we are very excited to present the shortlisted works at auction at Sotheby’s”.
All shortlisted works, except The Grand Prize Winner, are available for purchase through an auction organized by Sotheby’s, open for bidding from 17:00 GMT yesterday (February 15, 2022) until February 22, 2022. Visit Sotheby’s auction pagefor more information and to see the works. Registration is required to place an offer.
