TAYA 2012

TAYA 2012 Ceremony

Hard work, effort and creativity were acknowledged and celebrated at the ninth edition of the Thapong Artist of the Year Award ceremony held at the Thapong Visual Arts Centre, Gaborone on November 15 2012. The premier annual art event was well-attended by artists and art lovers. Since its beginnings in 2004, this event has grown to become a major event on Botswana art scene.

This year’s edition which attracted a record 143 entries saw Tumelo Thuthuka walk away with the coveted Thapong Artist of the Year Award 2012. For his efforts and creativity, Tumelo pocketed a P30 000 cash prize sponsored by the Diamond Trading Company Botswana which contributed a total of P100 000 to the prizes. Tumelo’s mixed media installation – The Forbidden Fruit – impressed the judges as one of the pieces that displayed a high level of originality and concept development as well as displaying evidence that the artist mastered the media.

The Forbidden Fruit by Tumelo Thuthuka

During his acceptance speech, Tumelo told the audience that the concept of his installation is drawn from the bible. He added that his piece interrogates issues of sexuality, health and food, especially the GMO versus organic food issue.

Speaking after the award ceremony, the co-ordinator of Thapong Visual Arts Centre, Reginald Bakwena, said that the last time an installation clichéd a top award was in 2009 TAYA. He explained, “Our artists are doing a good job in pushing the boundaries and globalizing our art. Most importantly it is exciting that our artists are grasping different concepts and techniques.”

Ompatile's Herero(L) and Hollow(R)

The second prize of P20 000 went to Ompatile Sebuelo for the pottery piece - Herero Woman. The Young Artist Award (18-35 years) went to the prolific painter Wilson Ngoni. His oil on canvas painting, Asking the Mountains, won him a cool P15 000 cash which was accepted on his behalf by his manager Charlotte-Marie Callins.

Wilson Ngoni's Asking The Mountains(Oil on canvas)

The Highly Recommended Award with a prize of P5 000 for each winner went to: Peter Van Nell (A Journey), Ogopoleng Kgomoethata (Mystery Photo With Chair), Victor Leshomo(30 Years, graphic poster), and Olemogeng Maaramela/Qeqhao Moses (Xgane, lino print). The centre’s co-ordinator said that this award was introduced this year following suggestions from artists, members and friends of Thapong.

Among the artists who received Special Mention Award was Keatlaretse Kate Kwati whose Single Mother installation was just as thought-provoking as her Try Walking In My Shoes installation piece which was part of the ‘Threads 2’ women’s group exhibition held recently at the Frame Gallery in Gaborone.

The TAYA Media Award 2012, sponsored by Mascom, for the journalist who extensively covered Thapong activities throughout 2012 was given to Monkagedi Gaotlhobogwe (Mmegi/Monitor) and ha d a prize of P6500. Segametsi Kebonang of Daily News went home with P4000.

       The chief judge,Kentse Bogatsu, said the judges’ points of reference were: 

       

       - originality (style, approach and content)

·         - mastery of media

·         - concept development (did the artist actually think through the idea and is there any interaction between the artist and the work)

·         - presentation

The judges noted that there has been an improvement in the numbers of participants in TAYA. Also, there has been an overall growth of 27% in the entries this year. The adults’ entries rose from 37% (2011) to 67% this year while the male entries rose by 34% from 78 to 118. The TAYA 2012 panel of judges was made up of Kentse Bogatsu, Lesiga Philip Segola, Abel Manatsha and Den Sibanda.

Some notable artists who participated in TAYA 2012 included Ziki Kraai, Goemeone Modisane (young brother to award-winning artist Mogorosi Modisane who held a solo exhibition – ‘My Spear’ in October), Joseph Piet, Roger Brown (who recently had a solo exhibition – Botswana Through My Eyes) and Pramod Kumar.

Guardian - 30years by Victor Leshomo(graphic design poster)

The curator for Thapong Artist of the Year Award 2012 was the renowned artist Philip Segola.  This year’s TAYA was sponsored by Diamond Trading Company Botswana, Botswana Development Corporation, Mascom, Botswana Telecommunications Authority, Department of Arts and Culture and the Embassy of France to Botswana. 


TAYA 2012 Special Mention

Patrick Matlapeng	“Comfort and Discomfort of Life” Installation Piece
Elijah Mwanza	“Riding Horses” Painting
Keatlaretse Kwati	Installation Piece,” Absent Father Figure”
Wendy Borrelo	“The Road home” Painting
Onkemetse Lesemela	“Malaysia”Charcoal portrait drawings
Christine Stolhefer	Sculpture
Willy Pulaetsile
Rebecca de Figueredo	Water color
Shepherd Ndudzo	Sculpture

  TAYA 2012 photo gallery

Water Colour by Rebecca De Figueiredo

Horsing About Elijah Mwanza(oil on canvas)

Heaven Chair/Mystery photo with chair by Ogopoleng

Christian Ndudzo's untitled metal sculpture

Ulf Nermark's untitled photograph

Kefilwe Pouk Mokopane's untitled oil on canvas

Natural Selection by Christiane Stolhofer,(mophane)

Sherperd Ndudzo's Fashion Lady (wood)

Olemogeng Maaramela/Qeqhao Moses (Xgane, lino print)