Durban visual artist Bongumenzi Ngobese is attending a three-month artistic residency at the Cité Internationale des Arts de Paris as part of the Gerard Sekoto Prize, which he won last year for his mixed-media piece Kwa-Mamkhize. While in Paris from 3 February to 27 April, he will create a new work which will be presented in the network of Alliances françaises in Southern Africa in 2012. Ngobese’s award-winning work deals with migration and identity. He explores and questions political issues surrounding migration and identity, particularly in the informal settlements. Through his investigation, he looks at social activities shaped by people who move from one location to another. He explores how social activities impact space, and in turn, how space impacts people.
Supported by the French Institute of South Africa in collaboration with ABSA, SANAVA, the French Embassy in South Africa and the French cultural network of Alliances Françaises in Southern Africa.
ABOUT THE ABSA L’ATELIER GERARD SEKOTO PRIZE
This annual award sponsored by the French Embassy, the French Institute and the Alliance Francaise is hosted as part of South Africa’s most prestigious art competition, ABSA L’Atelier. This prize is awarded to the most promising South African visual artist who earns less than R 60 000 per year. It includes a return ticket to Paris, 3 months’ stay at the Cité Internationale des Arts in Paris, nationwide touring exhibitions and training in French.
Previous prize winners include:
2009 Nyaniso LINDI
2008 Retha FERGUSON
2007 Nina BARNETT
2006 Nomusa MAKHUBU
2005 Lawrence LEMOANA
2004 Billie ZANGEWA
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