Eastern Cape artist takes top accolade in 2019 PPC Imaginarium Awards

Overall and Sculpture category winner: Isigu by Sonwabiso Ngcai

Ngcai secured both the Sculpture category prize and the Overall Winner ranking for a thought-provoking entry which provides an analogy for how certain religious cults are ensnaring their congregants.

According to the artist’s personal views on the subject matter: “An isigu, in traditional African society, is a contraption used by young boys to hunt birds. It consists of a downward-facing bowl, with one side held open by an upright stick that has a string tied to it, with a few pieces of grain scattered underneath the bowl. Lured by the promise of food, a bird enters the area - the string is tugged, and the bird is captured. In this piece, the use of this simple but effective hunting tool is an analogy for the entrapment of people by religious cults.”

Exploitation in the name of faith

Runner-up in Sculpture category: Kenneth Shandu

“In South Africa, recent exploitation has included feeding vulnerable congregants snakes and grass, making them drink petrol, sexual abuse, bullying and victimisation – all in the name of faith,” he says. “Baited by the expectation of salvation and often seduced by promises of wealth, people are increasingly falling into religious cults. The use of concrete refers to the perceived power of faith and how congregants find strength in the Bible. The construction of the trap alludes to temporary church pop-up structures such as tents or rented buildings that appear in strategic places,” he continues.

Ngcai probes an aspect of current South African society by means of a skillfully executed visual metaphor. Other work in the Sculpture category was categorised by this same desire to interrogate the contemporary African condition. Runner-up in the Sculpture category was Durban-based artist Kenneth Shandu for a work that depicts the plight of the homeless as observed on the streets of Durban. A special commendation went to Prudence Magagula for her exploration of gender violence and sexism experienced by female mine workers.

All the winners and runners-up:

Industrial Design winner: Vertical Concrete Record Player by Jomar Dreyer

Industrial design

Winner: “Vertical Concrete Record Player” by Jomar Dreyer
Runner-up: “Lime Light” by Jon-Peer Bouwer

Fashion

Winner: “Tribe” by Cow Mash
Runner-up: “My Mother’s Dress” by Cheryl Traub Adler
Special commendation: “Genesis 4: I Am Not the Keeper” by Itumeleng Ramakau

Architecture

Winner: “Camara and the Clothing Factory” by Wian Jordaan
Runner-up: “Finding Identity Within the Grid” by Suzani van der Merwe

Architecture winner: Camara and the Clothing Factory by Wian Jordaan

Jewellery

Winner: “Day Zero – Reversible Pendant” by Khanya Mthethwa
Runner-up: “K3 – Keree 3” by Joani Groenewald

Film

There was no winner or runner-up in the Film category but Nirma Madhoo received a special commendation.