Artists were tasked with creating a work of art around the theme of ‘destination’ and then interpreting that work as a decal to be carried on minibus taxis.
The winner of the competition, Tshepo Mosapa, receives a cash prize of R50 000. Each of the five finalists, Alison Riordan, Bev Butkow, Hiten Mohanlal Bawa, Khanyisa Dada, and Ross Passmoor receive a cash prize of R10 000. In addition to their artwork being displayed at the Lizamore & Associates Gallery in Rosebank, Johannesburg, during the month of April, each artist’s winning design will also be displayed on 10 minibus taxis in different areas of the country for a period of six months.
Art critic, historian, and mentor, Mary Corrigall, one of the three judges of the competition, says that the SA Taxi Foundation Art Award will have the effect of democratising art. “The transience of the art, which will be seen in flashes as its moving canvas weaves in and out of traffic, lends it a different kind of value; ‘embedding’ artistic expression into the fabric of people’s lives.”
“This allows the art to function as something that is not object-based - something to be acquired, admired and ‘understood’ – but as part of daily existence. Apart from giving the six finalists a chance to affirm the value of their work to society, the process triggered by this award challenges our creative industry as a whole to think beyond conventional ways of displaying design and art.”
Award winning public artist, Donna Kukama, another of the judges, feels that the award creates a rare connection among different cultures and societies within South Africa, with unexpected links being forged between the minibus taxi industry with its millions of black commuter customers and the high art community normally restricted to formal galleries and middle and upper class white patrons.
“It is rare, if not nearly impossible to come across art awards that require artists to be fluent in both the language of the gallery space as well as that of the public sphere,” says Kukama. “The type of artist that this award attracts and recognises is one that is able to not only creatively manipulate what has been accepted as our reality, but also someone with the skill to translate concepts across worlds that were previously perceived as miles apart.”
Dion Chang, innovation and trend specialist and founder of Flux Trends, said in his notes for the catalogue that accompanies the Lizamore & Associates Gallery exhibition of the finalists’ work: “Placing art works on taxis – the mode of transport that so many millions of South African’s rely on – is a stroke of genius.
“The SA Taxi Foundation should be applauded for embarking on this initiative, as well as their right brain thinking. Placing artworks on mini-bus taxis brings the art world out of its perceived ivory tower and onto the streets – where it can initiate recognition of the creative economy,” Chang says.
“It is only recently that governments have started to acknowledge the contribution the creative industries make to a country’s GDP. Formerly silo’ed industries like the art and business worlds are starting to converge, collaborate, and coexist, but it is a tentative and wary dance. Embedding art – and in this case, moving art – into the lives and minds of South Africans who might not otherwise be exposed to the emotive role of art could leap frog perceptions and awareness. That can only have positive spin offs.”
Kalnisha Singh, director of the SA Taxi Foundation, said the organisers were gratified to have more than 80 entries in the award’s first year. “Much older art competitions rarely have more than 200 entries. Clearly, the art world understands and appreciates our objective of providing a solid and credible platform, through a juried and curated exhibition held at a reputable gallery, through which emerging artists can contribute to their career building efforts.”
“Specifically, they appreciate that we are doing so by enabling fresh consideration of the role of the artist in both industry and society,” Singh says.
“For us, the award broadens our active citizenry beyond the financing of minibus taxis and, thereby, incubating small businesses. It enables us to implement another sustainable project that contributes to the communities within which we operate – and to leave people better off as a result of our being involved.”
For more information on the SA Taxi Foundation Art Award, visit www.sataxiartaward.co.za.