Artists win handsomely at taxi awards competition
ALEXANDRA - The SA Taxi Foundation has launched an innovation which will take art from galleries to the people.
This was at the SA Taxi Foundation Art Award ceremony at Lizamore and Associates Gallery, Rosebank for emerging artists who often struggle to break through and make a living through their trade. The awards were given to artists who entered a competition for best artwork relating to the taxi operation under a theme ‘mobility’
The initiative is a mutually beneficial partnership between the taxi industry and emerging artists whose talent will be exposed in the remotest areas of the country through decals on taxis, and in the process, benefit taxi owners through advertising.
Of the more than 80 artists who entered the competition, six finalists scooped the accolades with cash prizes of R50 000 for the winner Tshepo Mosopa of Pretoria and R10 000 to runners up Alison Riordan, Bev Butkow, Hiten Mohanlal Bawa, Khanyisa Dada and Ross Passmoor.
Their designs will be displayed on 10 minibus taxis countrywide for six months, enabling citizens and motorists to engage with art often hidden in galleries for the benefit of a few. The artwork will also be displayed for sale at the gallery for the whole of April.
Lauding the work, competition judge and art critic Mary Corrigall, said the initiative democratised art. “While it will be seen in flashes in the traffic, it will embed artistic expression into the fabric of people’s lives and allow the art to function, not as objects to be acquired, admired and understood, but as part of daily existence.”
Judge and public artist, Donna Kukama said the competition created a rare connection between different cultures and societies. “It forges unexpected links between the taxi industry, its millions of black commuter customers and the middle and upper-class white art patrons often restricted to galleries.”
Kalnisha Singh, foundation director commended the artists for using the taxi industry to contribute to their career-building efforts. “The awards broaden active citizenry beyond the financing and incubating of the minibus taxi industry as small businesses to supporting another industry through the taxis.”
Bonisile Makhubalo of SA Taxi Finance praised the initiative as an innovative development which integrated the taxi and art industries into the mainstream economy through 19 million commuters who will develop an interest in, and possibly purchase, art works. “The income from purchased art will contribute to the artists and future competitions, while revenue gained by the taxis from advertising the work will contribute to the employment of drivers, marshals and income for related vending businesses.”
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