Bonolo Kavula was announced as the winner of the The Norval Sovereign African Art Prize and you have until 28 February to see her work and those of the other finalists.
Norval Foundation and The Sovereign Art Foundation (SAF), together with Prize Lead Sponsor EON Reality, announced Bonolo Kavula as the winner of The Norval Sovereign African Art Prize and R500,000 for her work ‘Tswelopele’ in which the choice of fabric – a red shweshwe dress, is reminiscent of a family heirloom. The deconstruction and reconstruction of the fabric allows a new design to emerge from the mass of dots, leaving space for the viewer to interpretthe work as they choose.
Bonolo Kavula, represented by SMAC Gallery, Cape Town, is the first ever winner of this annual Prize for contemporary artists from Africa and its diaspora. They were selected from a shortlist of 30 artists hailing from 18 countries of which South Africa has the strongest representation, followed by Zimbabwe, Angola, Morocco, and Nigeria.
Grand Prize Winner Bonolo Kavula’s work is focused on abstraction, repetition and design, to create layered and multidimensional installations. In addition to the title and cash award, Kavula will be
offered the opportunity to hold a solo exhibition at Norval Foundation, in which the winning work will feature.
In addition, after capturing the attention of the public who placed votes at the exhibition and online, René Tavares, of This Is Not A White Cube, Luanda and Lisbon, and Galeire Alex Serra, Cologne is
awarded the Public Vote Prize and R25,000 for their piece ‘Sóia dona um, 2021, retratos pra Inglês ver– series.’ A work in which the plantations in São Tomé and the period after the abolition of slavery remind us of a historical past that is important to recover and reckon with.
Selection and Judging Process
A board of 53 independent arts professionals, comprising curators and academics 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, curator, and museum director David Elliott; Exhibitions Director, Museum of African Contemporary Art Al Maaden,Janine Gaëlle Dieudji; Curator, Norval Foundation, Khanya Mashabela; exhibition curator and contemporary art consultant, Marie-Ann Yemsi; and Chief Executive and Director, Design Museum, London, Tim Marlow.
“We are also very excited to announce that the Benefit Auction, hosted by Sotheby’s, was launched last night during an event at Norval Foundation, that was well attended by VIP guests. Please view the auction website here,”.
WHAT: The Norval Sovereign African Art Prize 2022. Sponsored by EON Reality
WHERE: Norval Foundation, 4 Steenberg Road. Tokai, Cape Town 7945
WHEN: Finalist Exhibition – 26 January – 28 February 2022. Mon – Sun 10am – 5:30pm. Closed on Tuesdays
AUCTION: Lots begin closing •22 February 2022 • 12:00 EST which is 7 PM SAST and 5 PM GMT
Lots close independently at one-minute intervals; closure times are subject to change . Website
INFO: T +27 (0)87 654 5900 | E info@norvalfoundation.org | Visit
Norval Foundation[18]
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