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Heather Gourlay-Conyngham : Photo: Steven Booth -
A Young Man : Oil on canvas, 177 x 80cm, by Heather Gourlay-Conyngham.
The first-ever National Portrait Award has been won by KwaZulu-Natal artist Heather Gourlay-Conyngham for her nude male portrait entitled A Young Man. Sponsored by Sanlam Private Investments (SPI), the award aims to celebrate and showcase the best original portrait artwork in South Africa, and 39 finalists complete a national touring exhibition that kicks-off at the Rust-en-Vrede Art Gallery in Durbanville.
The R100 000 prize drew 1 783 entries, which were all adjudicated by an independent panel comprising Hayden Proud, curator for historical painting and sculptures at the Iziko SA National Gallery in Cape Town; Vulindlela Nyoni, a lecturer in printmaking at the University of Stellenbosch; and artist and teacher Susanne du Toit, who recently scooped the prestigious 2013 BP Portrait Award in the United Kingdom. Stefan Hundt, head of SPI’s art advisory service and convener of the judging panel, commended the judges for their “exceptional dedication in making a very difficult decision, given the large number of entries received”.
Stefan further explained the final decision: “Heather’s portrait was chosen for her exceptional skill, the subject choice, the sincerity of the relationship between artist and subject, and the fact that her interpretation challenged convention and pushed beyond the normal and the accepted.”
Born in Durban in 1956, Heather lives in Hilton in the Midlands of KwaZulu-Natal. She has worked as an art teacher and painter since graduating with a BA Fine Arts from the University of Natal in 1978 and a Higher Education Diploma in 1980 from the University of South Africa. Her paintings focus primarily on the human form.
Daniël Kriel, CEO of SPI, said the outstanding quality and standard of the entries received was testament to the range and depth of talent South Africa had to offer. “Portraiture in South Africa has had a rich, and at times controversial, history that reflects the country’s social and political evolution. It is within this context that we are proud to partner with the Rust-en-Vrede Art Gallery to celebrate and showcase the best of original portraiture in South Africa.”
He said art is a passion for many of SPI’s clients, and is of increasing investment interest. “We feel particularly connected to the platform of portraiture, since it resonates with SPI’s vision and aims. Our expertise lies in wealth management, where we nurture and value close personal relationships with our clients. In the same way, there are few things more intimate than the relationship between the artist and the subject in a portrait.”
View our online exhibition of all 40 finalists here.
The national touring exhibition can be seen at the at the Rust-en-Vrede Art Gallery in Durbanville until Sunday 8 October; the University of Johannesburg Art Gallery from 24 October to 13 November; Stephan Welz & Co at the Alphen Estate in Constantia, Cape Town, from 26 November to 10 January 2014; and the KwaZulu-Natal Society of Arts during April 2014. For more information: www.spiportraitaward.co.za
