A Rhodes University art student Nyaniso Lindi was recently awarded the much coveted Gerard Sekoto award for most promising artist at the ABSA L’atelier arts awards. The awards, held annually, not only ensure South Africa’s emerging artists of recognition, but also afford them the opportunity to develop their talents abroad.
As the winner of this award, Lindi will fly to Paris for a residence programme of three months at the Cite Internationale des Arts. He will have free accomodation, will take French lessons and will have free access to all the museums and galleries in Paris. The award, which is co-sponsored by the French Embassy, French Institute and the Alliance Fran?aise, was established for artists between the ages of 21 and 35 with an annual income of R60 000 or less.?
“This is a great opportunity for me to explore the world and to learn about different cultures,” Lindi said. “I want to network and learn a bit of French.” Lindi hopes to visit as many galleries as he can while in Paris, to see “old masters’ works.”
The printmaking specialist was given the award for a colour reduction print which he titled ‘Tribute to Noria Mabasa’. Lindi based the piece on an earlier work of the Venda artist and through this gives recognition to one of South Africa’s living pioneer artists. “The piece is a tribute to the veteran sculptor who deserved to be honoured during her lifetime,” said Lindi. “Not only did she do a lot for the art world, but she also gave back to her community by building an art school in Venda.”
The 35 year old artsist, currently in his fourth year of the Bachelor of Fine Arts degree, gained entrance into the art world not merely by enrolling for a degree.
In 2000 Lindi was employed as a cleaner and only recently was promoted to printer assistant at the Fine Line Press section of the Fine Arts Department at Rhodes University. His job entails cleaning up after the students have finished printing or working with the department’s printing equipment. The upsides to the job include having access to the country’s finest printmaking equipment; however, the downsides have been watching privileged students flit through the degree and move on.
“I worked hard for my art until one day I realised that I needed to enrol and make my art professional,” said Lindi. As a member of the Rhodes staff he has the opportunity to choose one course that he can study free of charge at the University and he pays only 25% of the rest of his tuition fees.
Lindi has never received any bursaries, he has paid his own way and all that he has achieved has been through hardwork and the continued support of his supervisor Professor Dominic Thorburn.
Lindi has always been creative and began drawing at an early age. “I had the opportunity of doing art as a subject in high school from standard six until Matric and that’s where I developed my love for art,” the artsist said.
“What I create depends on what inspires me at that particular moment. Sometimes my work is a reflection of history,” Lindi described his art. He is especially interested in the Frontier Wars and Colonisation as subjects for his work. “But I do not like to box my work, there are always new issues on the table that will in a way inspire me.”
Lindi leaves for Paris in January and upon his return he will have a solo exhibition at Alliance Fran?aise Galleries in Southern Africa. “The residence programme will give me an opportunity to prepare for my solo exhibition. I will also host workshops and exchange ideas with other artists.”
The Gerard Sekoto award ensures that Lindi’s work will be recognised not only locally but internationally as well. “Winning this award means a lot of things to me. It means a lot more hard work, and also adds value to what I’ve been doing the last few years” the artist said.
Story by: Nompumezo Makinana