Sublime artistry at 4th Triennial

WINDHOEK, Sept. 5 – The fourth Bank Windhoek Triennial took place on Friday, 2 September 2017 and a number of sublime art works were on display in Windhoek. The event was co-hosted by the National Art Gallery of Namibia (NAGN).

But it was twenty-nine year old Isabel Katjavivi who was unanimously selected by the judges as the overall winner for her work titled: ‘The Past is not Buried.”

Ismael Shivute and Saima Iita took joint second prize with their sculpture work titled ‘Why?’ Andrew van Wyk was awarded third prize for his work titled ‘/Ai//Gams the Town.

Paul Kiddo and Trudi Dicks were presented with the Lifetime Achievement Awards, for their lifetime dedication to visual arts.
Kiddo has maintained a high standard of work throughout his career and his paintings serve as a documentation of time and commentary of time and place. His works are represented in numerous collections throughout Africa and Europe.

Dicks has received wide national and international recognition for her work. In 1992 she was awarded a five-month residency at the Cite Internationale des Arts in Paris, France.
Annaleen Eins was presented with the Dedication to Visual Arts Award for her lifetime commitment to Namibian arts.
From over 350 entries the judges chose 70 artworks by 60 artists.

“The competition and its resultant exhibition demonstrates that Namibian art is alive and well and evinces a vibrancy, passion and commitment to excellence that speaks loud and clear,” read the judges report.
An adjudication panel of three local and two international judges made a selection of artworks for the exhibition as well as for prize-winners. Frauke Stegmann, Ervast Mtota, Zodidi Gaseb, Maureen de Jager and Andrew Lamprecht, were the judges for this this year’s Bank Windhoek Triennial.

“The NAGN is extremely proud to be associated with Bank Windhoek in this important partnership, which was established nine years ago,” said Curatorial Coordinator at the NAGN, Ndeenda Shivute.

The Triennial aims to celebrate visual art in Namibia as well as to raise the standard thereof. All artists with Namibian citizenship, domicile or permanent residence were invited to apply.

The exhibition itself will close on Saturday, 28 October 2017.

Overall Best Artist (The Past is not Buried – unfired clay, sand, leaves, stone and seeds)
Isabel Katjavivi

Isabel Katjavivi wont best overall for her work (below)

“The past is not buried” – by Isabel Katjavivi

Joint second Prize Winners (Why? – Reclaimed Metal Stone)

Ismael Shivute and Saima Iita

Joint second Prize Winners (Why? – Reclaimed Metal Stone)
Ismael Shivute and Saima Iita

Third Prize Winner (/Ai//Gams the Town – Oil on board)
Andrew van Wyk

Third Prize Winner (/Ai//Gams the Town – Oil on board)
Andrew van Wyk

Most Promising Young Artist Award (Digital print on paper)
Vilho Nuumbala
Judges Special Mention (Wealth and the Society – mixed media)
Papa Shikongeni
Lifetime Visual Arts Achievement Award
Paul Kiddo and Trudi Dicks
Dedication to the Visual Arts Award
Annaleen Eins

– Ignatius Mutasa\