CAPE TOWN – A Bellville artist has captured global attention after winning the Public Prize at the prestigious René Carcan International Prize for Printmaking in Belgium, marking a significant achievement for South African contemporary art on the international stage.
Jacques Kannemeyer’s work emerged as the public favourite among 25 shortlisted artists from a field of 201 competitors representing five continents. The awards were announced on 7 February 2026 at the Wittockiana Museum in Brussels, where the exhibition continues until 8 March 2026.
Kannemeyer’s winning entry employed an innovative approach that merged artificial intelligence with traditional printmaking techniques. He used AI-generated images, which were then reworked digitally before being hand-transferred to linoleum for carving and printing.
Exploring human creativity and technology
“What interested me was the role reversal,” Kannemeyer explained. “Traditionally, humans create the vision and machines reproduce it. In this process, the AI produced the initial image and I became the craftsperson — physically bringing that digital vision into the world through manual labour.”
The artist’s work deliberately explores the evolving relationship between human creativity and artificial intelligence. “I’m not trying to say whether AI is a friend or a threat. I wanted the work to sit with that uncertainty — to ask viewers what creativity really means, what makes us human, and what role we choose to play as these technologies become more sophisticated.”
This latest achievement continues a remarkable year of international recognition for the Northern Suburbs-based artist. Kannemeyer was recently shortlisted in the top 40 for Linocut Today XIII in Germany, competing against approximately 500 applications from which only 45 were selected for the exhibition running from July to October 2025.
He also made the Extended Longlist for the Jackson’s Art Prize in the UK, placing him in the top 25% of approximately 13 000 entries from 129 countries.
Closer to home, Kannemeyer secured third prize at the Vuleka Art Competition hosted by Art.b in Bellville for his work “Woven in Time”, and was a finalist in Sasol New Signatures in 2024. He was also a top 40 finalist in Vuleka during 2024.
Connecting local and global
Reflecting on his international success, Kannemeyer emphasised the universal appeal of locally-created work. “To know that people on the other side of the world connected with work made here in the Northern Suburbs is incredibly affirming. It reminds me that local stories and personal questions can still resonate globally.”
The artist maintains strong ties to his local community, opening his studio annually for Boston Open Studios, where residents can engage directly with his creative process.
The René Carcan International Prize for Printmaking, judged by an international jury led by Françoise Pétrovitch, awarded three official jury prizes alongside the public prize that Kannemeyer secured.
