Sasol New Signatures Catalogue 2021 - Book - Page 6
FOREWORD
Sasol Vice President
Group Communication and Brand Management
ELTON
FORTUIN
This year marks the 31st anniversary of our proud sponsorship of
the Sasol New Signatures Art Competition. Over three decades the
competition has evolved with the changing times to maintain its
relevance, but its essence – to unearth hidden artistic talent in South
Africa – remains steadfast.
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Following a brief hiatus in 2020 as a consequence of the COVID-19
pandemic, we are delighted that the competition – a coveted fixture
of the local art scene – could make its return, allowing emerging
artists to not only expand the possibilities of art, but to also inspire
innovation and change. This aligns well with Sasol’s purpose,
innovating for a better world.
Sasol’s promise to society is to be a positive catalyst for change and
to create shared value. We remain committed to play our part in
supporting the arts through this prestigious competition because
we recognise the integral role it plays to mirror and record where and
who we are as a society, both collectively as a nation and for artists
personally.
The creation of art and engaging with it, allows us to process
experiences. Art helps us to express the human psyche and view
the world around us from different perspectives. This is partly
what makes art limitless, its significance has no boundaries. It is
this distinctive feature that this year’s Sasol New Signatures Art
Competition celebrates and seeks to bring to the fore.
Indeed, the arts remain as relevant as ever. With an increased
emphasis on mental well-being during times of isolation and
quarantine, we have seen many people turn to creative activities
to help work through these trying times. We salute all artists who,
despite the current challenges, have continued to practice their craft
SASOL NEW SIGNATURES • 2021 CATALOGUE
and dream of the impossible. Each and every artwork submitted this
year has an inspiring story to tell.
We also honour those we have lost during this extraordinary period
and acknowledge the legacies left to us. May this generation of
artists remember that they stand tall because of those who have
gone before them.
Over the past three decades of Sasol New Signatures, many of its
entrants and, in particular, the finalists have carved significant
careers in the art world, emphasising the role of the competition in
shaping the country’s artistic landscape.
With this year’s competition, we implemented a few changes to
help improve access to the competition. The information sessions
held each year to help orientate emerging artists on how to prepare
their works for entry, were held online for the first time, as where
the feedback sessions. The feedback sessions aim to give advice
and guidance to artists in order to help improve their submissions.
These online resources, together with blogs and other videos, serve
as guides to emerging artists and will remain available on the Sasol
New Signatures website for future reference.
On behalf of Sasol, we congratulate all the winners of the 2021 Sasol
New Signatures Art Competition and wish them all the best for the
future.
We also extend our gratitude to the Association of Arts Pretoria for
their dedication and hard work, as well as to our partners, the City
of Tshwane, the Pretoria Art Museum and Stuttaford Van Lines, for
their continued and loyal support.
