Sebuelo is Thapong artist of the year
Mpho Mokwape | Monday December 9, 2013 16:24
Notably, Sebuelo was second runner-up in the ceramic category at last year's edition.The honours, which are in their 9th year, showcase emerging visual art talent.
Thapong Visual Arts Centre Coordinator Reginald Bakwena said the awards have grown in prestige and stature, adding that they attract more artists each year.
He revealed that some previous winners have gone for exchange programs, testimony that the event grows their profiles and provides a strong platform for growth and valuable lessons. Bakwena said the awards have since inception in 2004, challenged Thapong members to be better artists.
'We expect our artists to be innovative, keen observers of their society, and ultimately create works that help us to interrogate and interpret what goes on around us,' he said.
He stressed that they realise that a lot needs to be done to impart skills to individual artists to raise their profiles.
Collegium Educational Publishers, Mascom Wireless and Diamond Trading Company (DTC) sponsored the awards, which had eight categories. Gosego Motlogelwa from the Sculpture Category won the Young Artist of the Year Award, pocketing P15,000 courtesy of DTC while Ogopoleng Kgomoethata won the Photography Category.
Kebonang Segametsi emerged the Overall Journalist of the Year, walking away with P7,500 from Mascom while Phemelo Ramusu pocketed P5, 000 as the runner-up Journalist of the Year. Phenyo Moalosi won P5, 000 for winning the Best Media Photographer award.