Justicia Shipena
Michelle Van Wyk, the director of the National Art Gallery of Namibia (NAGN), has urged Namibians to unite in visually expressing their identity on international platforms.
She made this call at the launch of the Bank Windhoek Triennial on Tuesday.
Van Wyk emphasised the importance of using art to tell the world who Namibia is and who it is becoming.
The launch event, held in Windhoek, marked the beginning of the sixth edition of the Triennial, which carries the theme “Namibian Identity: The Linework of a Country’s Contours and Wealth”.
The competition invites artists to explore and portray the essence of Namibian identity through their creative expressions.
Van Wyk also highlighted the ongoing efforts to include artists from all Namibian regions.
This year, NAGN has partnered with regional art extension offices to ensure broader participation and provide support to artists across the country.
NAGN’s chief curator, Ndeenda Shivute-Nakapunda, shared that these art offices would play a key role in the selection process, ensuring that submitted works meet the competition’s high standards.
The offices also aim to provide artists with the necessary resources and information to help them refine their submissions.
Bronwyn Moody, Bank Windhoek’s head of stakeholder engagement, corporate social responsibility, and sponsorships, emphasised that the Triennial is more than just an art competition.
“For Bank Windhoek, the Triennale is a mirror held up to society, reflecting our collective journey with endless possibilities,” she said.
Moody also noted the bank’s longstanding role as the title sponsor of the exhibition, a partnership that has been in place since 2008.
Bank Windhoek continues to provide a vital platform for Namibian artists to showcase their work and shape the future of the country’s art scene.
To encourage creativity and foster the growth of emerging artists, the competition will feature a category for youth under the age of 35.
The NAGN will also invite these emerging artists to participate in its emerging artists’ program.
The competition offers prizes for the top three winners. The overall winner will receive N$50,000 and a solo exhibition at the NAGN.
The second and third-place winners will be awarded N$35 000 and N$25 000, respectively.
In addition to the cash prizes, the NAGN will provide ongoing support to help the top winners develop their careers.
