Three Gqeberha artists are set to display their unique works in the Pretoria Art Museum from Thursday after they claimed some of the top honours in one of SA’s oldest design competitions, the 2025 Sasol New Signatures Visual Arts Competition.
Among them is Nelson Mandela University honours student Juandre van Eck who beat out 903 entries to earn the title of the overall winner for the ceramic piece titled Cycles of the mind.
The 25-year-old bagged the R100,000 cash prize and an opportunity to hold a solo exhibition at the Pretoria Art Museum in 2026.
Five Merit award winners also received R10,000 including Gqeberha’s Snelihle Asanda Maphumulo, 22, for Ngaphansi kwesithunzi sakhe (Under His Shadow Sheep Hide) on canvas, and Sarah Volker, 23, received a merit award for Taut, tethered and torn (Ballet tights, stones and cement blocks).
Van Van Eck’s piece was one of 106 works selected to advance to the final round of judging and appearing in the almost month-long 2025 exhibition at the Pretoria Art Museum.
He said his ceramic artwork emulated the rhythmic patterns of breath with two whistles positioned on opposite sides — one a cry of liberation and joy and the other a low, gentle echo of contemplation and unseen turmoil.
“Water, the essence of life, gives life to this artwork offering it a voice through its gentle flow from one state to the next.
“It provides comfort and the promise that even in the darkest moment, hope can rise, a whisper becoming a triumphant cry of defiance.
“When people interact with my work, I hope it creates a calming environment that speaks to the inner child, allowing for a sense of play in a world that often feels overwhelming.”
He hoped the piece would go beyond being just art.
“I envision my pieces being used in meditation classes or as a tool to connect people with nature, promoting mindfulness and presence.
“Even if it’s just for a moment, I hope my work can help calm the mind and encourage people to be in the moment,” Van Eck said.
The other merit award winners included Vian Mervyn Roos, 35, from Pretoria, for the 2916 Cotton Thread, Rebecca Glass, 22, from Pretoria, for Sell-Fish Etching, and Tammy Lee Baikie, 48, from Johannesburg, for Book worms.
Thabo Treasure Mofokeng, 39, from Johannesburg, a merit winner in 2023, was announced as the runner-up for his painting, Still Standing, and received R25,000.
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The work was inspired by the resilience and courage of his neighbour, who despite being paralysed by a gunshot wound, radiates a strong spirit.
“This piece is a tribute to my neighbour’s inspiring spirit and a celebration of the human capacity for resilience, hope and determination,” Mofokeng said.
Sasol New Signatures Visual Arts Competition chair Pfunzo Sidogi said it was a privilege to engage with and listen to some of the greatest collection of art minds during the regional and final judging rounds.
“More and more emerging artists are creating artworks that demand to be experienced beyond purely visual and cognitive dimensions.
“This is certainly the case with this year’s winning work.
“Van Eck’s ceramic sculpture invites viewers to touch, hold and gently move the delicately manufactured object.
“This activates the piece’s acoustic qualities, creating a beautifully eerie mood and allowing the audience to connect with the object beyond the boundaries of visual perception,” Sidogi said.
Sasol has sponsored the competition for the past 35 years, providing emerging SA artists with a platform to express their unique perspectives and push the boundaries of creative expression.
Sasol executive vice-president of marketing and sales, energy and chemicals in Southern Africa, Christian Herrmann, said they reaffirmed their commitment to creativity, progress and the power of new ideas through their sponsorship.
“This milestone is not only a celebration of our legacy in science and technology but also a tribute to the transformative role of the arts in shaping society.
“In this special anniversary year, we celebrate not only the artists who dare to see the world differently, but also the shared spirit of innovation that unites us all.
“To all the artists who supported the competition by submitting works, thank you for contributing to the legacy of Sasol New Signatures.
“Congratulations to the winners, your names will forever be part of the history of this competition,” Herrmann said.
The combined exhibition will run from Thursday to Sunday November 2.
The Herald
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