By Nangamso Mabindla
24 March 2006

WORKS by some of the Eastern Cape's most exciting young artists is on exhibition at the Ann Bryant Gallery in East London as part of the ABSA L'atelier competition.

The ABSA L'atelier competition, which started in 1985, is open to artists between the ages of 21 to 35. The top prizes give young artists the chance to gain exposure to the international art community.

Finalists get a chance to exhibit their work and the winner is flown to Paris to attend the Cité Internationale des Arts for up to six months, in addition to a cash prize of R100 000.

There is also an award for the most promising artist, of a three-month stay at the Cité Internationale des Arts.

Gallery curator Leon du Preez says the East London exhibition, which opened on Thursday 22 March, will expose the province's young artists to the country's art industry.

The competition, according to Du Preez, "promotes and encourages young artists to think outside art boundaries - especially when it comes to visual art. It allows them to break away from the old traditional boundaries."

"Some of these artists have been chosen for the national competition and if they do well one of them might end up winning the ultimate prize," says Du Preez.

The six local artists who made it into the national round are:
Dina Zoe Belluigi - Untitled,
Deborah Beth Kanfer - Moment Mon,
Naomi Roux - Untitled,
Nomusa Makhubu - Fragments,
Christine Fae Maree - Untitled and
Litha Ncokasi - So Prano.

The exhibition closes on Saturday 8 April.

For more information contact the gallery on 043 722 4044.

The Ann Bryant Gallery, at 9 St Marks Road, Belgravia, East London, is open Mondays to Fridays from 9am to 5pm, and on Saturdays and public holidays between 9am and noon.