Prompted by its acceptance as an affiliate member of the International Academy of Ceramics (IAC), The Rust-en-Vrede Gallery + Clay Museum announced the launch of the inaugural SA Clay Awards in February 2024. The gallery will exhibit its winning pieces from the 2nd of November until the 7th of December 2024 for the first time. As an organisation affiliated to Unesco and devoted to ceramic excellence, the IAC nod is a fittingly momentous opportunity to propose a new biennale award and exhibition, in recognition of the wealth of skill and talent in the South African ceramics landscape. Alternating annually with Rust-en-Vrede Gallery’s Portrait Award, the inaugural SA Clay Awards celebrate mastery and creativity in the field of clay. The entry novel structure sees the top 50 pieces acknowledged rather than a singular winner. Uniquely, the sponsored awards money will also be shared equally between the creators of the final selection. This speaks to the versatility of the medium. With so many ways to interpret, work with and express a concept through clay, choosing one winner would have been next to impossible.
The judging process to choosing the top 50 pieces was undertaken by a group of 10 respected international and local panelists who are experts in their fields, ranging from renowned ceramic artists to revered academics. This ensured that a wide range of viewpoints were part of the assessment of the works. Selectors included Magdalene Odundo (UK/Kenya), Andile Dyalvane (South Africa); Ronnie Watt (Canada/South Africa); Andre Hess (UK/South Africa); Digby Hoets (South Africa); Olivia Barrell (South Africa); Janet de Boos (Australia); Guangzhen Zhou (USA/China); Stanis Mbwanga (Congo) and Elizabeth Perril (USA).
Each panelist chose their top 50 pieces, with the 50 most voted pieces overall forming the final selection. The judging was conducted anonymously, allowing selectors to choose works without any contact or deliberation among one another. This ensured that the inaugural South African Clay Awards not only showcase a fair judging process but a great variety of work in the final selection. The winning pieces show a lot of diversity in the incredible variety of the entrants themselves. They range from established names and stalwarts of the ceramics industry to brand-new talents entering the medium. Through this, a variety of rich stories emerge. The oldest entrant is Felicity Potter (b. 1935) who entered a piece with her partner David Schlapobersky, to well-known brothers Madoda and Siyabonga Fani both with pieces in the lineup, and many more besides.
Pieces vary greatly in style and execution too, expressive figurative sculptural works stand alongside delicate functional vessels and contemporary graphic designs sit next to the ultra-minimal. It’s a truly multifaceted curation that speaks volumes about the medium itself as well as the wide spectrum of creativity locally. The exhibition is curated in a way that displays the works in such a way as to highlight exactly this diversity and versatility. The inaugural South African Clay Awards invite you to explore the stories and emotions conveyed through each piece in this exhibition – a collective homage to the rich heritage and future of ceramic artistry in South Africa. The exhibition will open to the public on Saturday the 2nd of November at 11am at the Rust-en-Vrede Gallery + Clay Museum at 10 Wellington Road, Durbanville, Cape Town and will be on view until the 7th of December 2024. The successful entrants include Melissa Barker, Bianca Bernstein, S’bonelo Luthuli, Chuma Maweni, Nicholas Sithole as well as Nada Spencer among others.
