55 Finalists for PPC Imaginarium

The country’s most supportive art and design prize has once again garnered unprecedented attention from aspiring creatives, achieving a record number of entries into the competition – with an impressive 869 registered entries received.

A project of the innovation department of PPC Ltd, the PPC Imaginarium Awards challenges artists and designers to express their creative abilities using cement as the primary medium. This criterion has always resulted in an array of exciting and imaginative works that truly demonstrate the versatility and unexpected beauty of concrete – and this year is no exception to the rule.

Following a regional judging process that took place earlier this year in January and February 2017, 55 finalists have been selected to move on to the prestigious national judging round of the PPC Imaginarium Awards. The finalists were chosen from the competition’s various categories, namely, film, industrial design, sculpture, fashion and jewellery, with architecture entries still in the process of being judged.

The overall winner, category winners and runners-up will be announced on 18 May 2017 at the UJ Art Gallery in Johannesburg.

The finalists’ submissions were judged by a prestigious panel of industry experts, including well-known architect and director of the awards, Daniel van der Merwe, fashion and design consultant Allana Finley and visual artist Stephen Hobbs.

Other noteworthy regional judges include esteemed fine artist Mary Sibande, award-winning filmmaker Wessel van Huyssteen and Gallery MOMO Cape Town director Igsaan Martin. "There was a noticeable progression of the physical submissions this year,” says Martin. “It is evident that entrants are researching the limitations of concrete and delivering this knowledge within their artworks. The outcome was innovative submissions that are of exceptional quality."

Members of the public will be able to engage with the finalists’ work at a number of galleries and events across the country, including 100% Design South Africa, the Turbine Art Fair and the KZNSA Gallery, in addition to the exhibition at the UJ Art Gallery. This travelling showcase will see the finalists’ work gain widespread industry and public exposure.

For more information on the PPC Imaginarium Awards, visit www.ppcimaginarium.co.za