Joep Nel
Potters and pottery enthusiasts from across Namibia gathered at the National Arts Gallery of Namibia (NAGN) last night, Thursday 18th August, for the opening evening of Namibia’s National Ceramics Biennale. Over a hundred hungry art connoisseurs and exhibitors were greeted by the typical earthy tones of traditional pottery, tinged with soft blues and greens and shades of subtle pastels.
The biannual event celebrates its 10th anniversary this year, having skipped the Biennale during the two year COVID-19 pandemic. Renate Williamson, Chairperson of the Potters’ Association of Namibia, noted that this coincidentally also seems to have kickstarted a lot of new talent in the country, as being stuck at home resulted in aspiring artists taking up the hobby.
Pottery, together with rock paintings and engravings, is one of the most ancient, but continuously practiced art forms in Namibia. Some pieces of pottery that date back thousands of years are still being discovered in the North Western Regions of Namibia as well as in the deep South at the Orange river mouth areas.
Williamson also thanked the corporates who generously assisted with funding to make the event possible. Capricorn Private Wealth headlined the sponsors list, ably supported by Portsmut Hunting Safaris, Pointbreak Wealth Management, Hüster Machine Tools, Cape Pottery Supplies, Potter Supply Mail Order, the Pupkewitz Foundation and Kahn Trucking.
The two judges tasked with the mammoth task of selecting pieces for the exhibition and judging the various categories were Namibian sculptor Professor Hercules Viljoen and South African pottery master Anthony Shapiro. Shapiro described the event as “fresh and exciting with a lot of diversity”.
More than 160 pieces were under scrutiny multiple times before 151 were selected to be displayed for the month-long exhibition at the National Arts Gallery of Namibia. A total of 6 categories were judged with the people’s choice award rounding off the evening.
Margo Timm scooped the most promising beginners’ category, while the new signature award went to Andrea Horsthemke. The rural pottery award was won by Elina Bainga while in the sculpture category, second and first places were carved out by Mitchell Gatsi. The handwork category was palmed by Anita Steyn, with the wheelwork category driven home by Genie Albrecht. The premier award went to Jacqui Janse van Vuuren, before the exhibition attendees and participants voted to bestow the people’s choice award to gentle giant sculptor Mitchell Gatsi.
For those interested in advancing their craft, Anthony Shapiro will host two workshops, one in Windhoek this weekend and one in Swakopmund at the coast next weekend, the 27th of August. For more information contact the Potters’ Association of Namibia (PAN) at https://www.pan.iway.na or e-mail at potters.namibia@gmail.com
Namibia’s National Ceramics Biennale runs until 16 September at the NAGN where all pieces can be viewed and are up for sale to the public.
