Local artist and Nelson Mandela University Visual Arts graduate, Nosiviwe Matikinca, who is the 23-year-old winner of the 2023 Sasol New Signatures Art Competition, is set to hold her first solo exhibition at the Pretoria Art Museum from September 5 to November 3, 2024.
Titled Ukungalingani Kwezemfundo (Educational Inequality), the exhibition is an exploration of the challenges learners from under-privileged backgrounds face in public schools.
Matikinca’s award-winning work in 2023 focused on the disparities in basic necessities, like school shoes, and her solo exhibition takes this narrative further.
“I have decided to continue the narrative I began in 2023 and highlight and educate the public about the challenges faced by learners who come from under-privileged backgrounds,” she said. “My artworks portray the over-crowding of classes and the lack of school tables, leaving learners to share with others or use broken tables. The carvings on these tables commemorate the presence of learners who were distracted due to overcrowding and noise from their classmates.”
Matikinca’s use of clay is a significant aspect of her work, according to Cate Terblanche, Sasol’s Art Curator.
“The use of clay is crucial to understanding Matikinca’s work,” Terblanche explained. “Clay as a material speaks of an organic nature. It can be moulded and shaped into any form, and during the firing process it changes consistency. The nature of the clay speaks to not only the education system which is supposed to mould and shape the young child’s mind and future, but also the precariousness of the public schooling system in South Africa.”
Matikinca’s exhibition will coincide with the New Signatures 2024 exhibition, showcasing 139 works selected by judges from across South Africa. The winners of the 2024 competition will be announced on September 4. Each artwork stands as a testament to the nation’s diverse artistic tapestry, highlighting the richness of contemporary expression.
The Sasol New Signatures exhibition has a long history of discovering and showcasing new talent, and Matikinca’s solo exhibition is a testament to the impact of this initiative. Her work is a reminder of the importance of addressing educational inequality and ensuring that all learners have access to quality education.
