South Africa Culture: Art competition winner sheds light on nation's power shortages

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One of South Africa's oldest and most respected art competitions has seen a return to more classic art forms in recent years. The Sasol New Signatures Competition has played an integral role in uncovering young talent over the last 30 years. This year's winner, Patrick Rulore, sheds light on how crippling power shortages affect every day life. CGTN's Julie Scheier has more.

Patrick Rulore's oil and acrylic painting titled "Stage 4 Moments" claimed top spot from a hundred finalists in the Sasol New Signatures competition.

The fine arts student depicts life during South Africa's power crisis.

PATRICK RULORE 2019 SASOL NEW SIGNATURES WINNER "I felt compelled to do this piece because I've seen how this extreme shortage of electricity has affected South Africa, and particularly my family."

JULIE SCHEIER PRETORIA, SOUTH AFRICA "This is the 2019 winner and he walks away with almost $7,000 and a chance to showcase in a solo exhibition next year."

PATRICK RULORE 2019 SASOL NEW SIGNATURES WINNER "It's such an overwhelming experience. And just seen that it is possible, when you really, you know, work hard as a person. But it's such an inspiration now I think, for my friends and my colleagues. So I've seen that it's possible."

Rulore's work displayed a common thread of pressing societal issues in this year's submissions, all of which will be published in the annual catalogue.

PIETER BINSBERGEN CHAIRPERSON, SASOL NEW SIGNATURES "The catalog becomes a very, very important marketing tool because it is seen as one of the creme de la creme competitions of the country. And we've seen over the past couple of years that there's been keen interest from international investors, or schools and institutions that are offering residences to our finalists."

Meanwhile, last year's winner Jessica Kapp presented her solo exhibition on the 2017 Knysna fires.

JESSICA KAPP 2018 WINNER "Not being there was a very disconcerted feeling. Hearing that you might, you know, potentially lose your home, lose part of your identity or for me, home has become a very big part of my identity. So this exhibition focuses on land, focuses on possession and human experience, but also looks at space in place."

Sasol's art initiative has sculpted the careers of many artists over the last 30 years.

It also shows that classic art has not lost its appeal in an age where digital forms are becoming popular. JS, CGTN, PTA, SA.