Miné Kleynhans (34), a project manager at the University of the Free State Art Gallery, has won the prestigious 2024 Sasol New Signatures Art Competition for her installation titled Meditations on Resentment. As the winner, Kleynhans receives a cash prize of R100,000 and will present a solo exhibition at the Pretoria Art Museum in 2025.
Her winning piece, Meditations on Resentment, envisions a personal ritual that allows participants to engage with and express the often-suppressed emotion of resentment. This interactive installation invites viewers to participate by kneeling in front of the artwork, pouring sand onto its indented surface, and using a sharpened brush to write their resentments in the sand. Afterward, they sweep the sand away to reveal a brass thorn, symbolizing the sharp, underlying emotion.
The 2024 Sasol New Signatures Art Competition reached new heights this year, with 1,013 submissions from across South Africa, and 137 works selected for the final exhibition.
Elton Fortuin, Sasol’s Vice President of Group Communications and Brand Management, praised the competition, stating: “The Sasol New Signatures Art Competition has evolved into a powerful platform that reflects our collective history and identity as a nation. We are grateful to all the artists who have shared their stories with us and supported this competition.”
Pfunzo Sidogi, Chairperson of the Sasol New Signatures Competition, emphasized the difficulty of selecting the winner this year due to the high quality of submissions. “Words like ‘poignant,’ ‘majestic,’ and ‘technically virtuosic’ were used by judges to describe the winning artworks. This speaks to art’s ability to transcend cultural and personal differences,” Sidogi said.
Sasol has proudly sponsored the New Signatures competition for 34 years, working alongside the Association of Arts Pretoria. Fortuin highlighted Sasol’s commitment to fostering emerging artists and supporting the vibrant artistic talent that defines South Africa.
Runner-Up
Tandabantu Nathaniel Jongikhaya Matola (28), a Fine Arts student at Walter Sisulu University, was named the runner-up, earning R25,000 for his piece Ukuncikelela (meaning “to hold on” in isiXhosa). Matola’s work highlights the struggles of impoverished Black South African communities, using dishcloths collected from his village to symbolize endurance and the overuse of household items in challenging conditions. Through a combination of clay and cloth, his piece reflects resilience and the realities of rural life.
The competition continues to celebrate and support the artistic voices of South Africa, fostering new talent and offering a platform for creative expression.
