WORDS Mary Garner
The winners of the 2018 PPC Imaginarium Awards were recently announced at the University of Johannesburg Art Gallery.
The competition received 302 regional entrants and selected 62 national finalists. The overall winner, Chris Soal, is a 24-year-old sculptor and fine arts graduate from Wits University. Along with the coveted title, Chris receives a R150 000 prize.
His piece, titled Imposed Structure to the Detriment of the Members, was made using cement cast into the shape of a deflated and scuffed soccer ball. The piece depicts the dejected way that old soccer balls are discarded. It highlights the impact that the 2010 FIFA World Cup had on South Africa and the debate around how it’s actually benefited the country.
The judging panel of the PPC Imaginarium Awards included acclaimed contemporary artist Mary Sibande, renowned local artist Stephen Hobbs, UJ Art Gallery curator Annali Dempsey, and Daniel van der Merwe, who heads up the Awards.
The five winners in the five categories were:
Film: Phumulani Ntuli
Jewellery: Aleks Ashton
Aleks Ashton – Tiara of the Heart and Head
Fashion: Gabrielle Foulis
Gabrielle Foulis – The Art of Destruction
Sculpture: Chris Soal
Chris Soal – Imposed Structure to the Detriment of the Members
Industrial Design: Giovanni Zambri
All of the above winners were each awarded R50 000 in cash, while the runners up each won R15 000.
For more information, visit ppcimaginarium.co.za.
