By Nangamso Mabindla
16 March 2005

ART IS in the spotlight this week with the opening at the Ann Bryant Art Gallery in East London of the 20th Absa L'atelier art competition on Tuesday, March 15 2005.

The competition, which started in 1985, is open to artists aged 21 to 35, who get an opportunity to exhibit their entries to the public. The winner of the provincial competition then competes with some of the best artists in the country.

The national winner will be flown to Paris, where he or she will stay for three months in the Cité Internationale des Arts, studying the arts and attending exhibitions across France. However, even those who do not get to France are winners, as the exhibition gives the province's artists a chance to show their work to local art lovers.

Speaking at the opening, Benita Jeffrey, the Absa branch manager, said the bank was committed to promoting Eastern Cape's art. "We happy when these young artists make it, whether here in South Africa or internationally," she said.

The guest speaker was Nombe Mpako, the dean of the faculty of applied technology at Border Technikon. She said the competition was good for the province's artists. "Eastern Cape is a developing province and our artists do not get the recognition they deserve. But with competitions like these they get a chance to show the country what they are made of."

She also commended Absa for sponsoring the competition, saying it showed that there was a future for visual art. "However, I would love to see next year's chosen art material reflecting the Eastern Cape. Our artists need to be inspired by our beautiful province and start portraying that beauty in their work."

The exhibition is open to the public from Wednesday, 16 March to Sunday, 27 March 2005.