Egyptian artist Nada Baraka wins ANNA Art prize for 2023
The Caro based painter beat 11 other women artists from the continent to this richest art prize on the continent.
By Edward Tsumele, CITYLIFE/ARTS Editor
This fine art competition is one of the fiercest fought for by women artists from around the African content, some of the finest in the craft and understandably so as it comes with a whopping R100 000 cash prize for the winner. This prize money should rank if not the richest art prize on the continent, one of the richest.
The organisers have today Wednesday, August 9, 2023, fittingly on Women’s Day, announced the winner of the ANNA Art Prize 2023, Egyptian artist Nada Baraka. With that triumph, that contemporary art spotlight falls on her as collectors and art enthusiasts focus their gaze on her and her art practice.
After a vigorous selection process, in which our esteemed selection committee cast their votes for the 12 ANNA Award 2023 finalists, the jury is out. Nada Baraka, an Egyptian artist based in Cairo, is the 2023 ANNA Award recipient. Nada Baraka makes paintings that maintain an endless, active state of flux, swaying between abstract and surreal with her evocative application and vivid colours. Baraka seeks to generate forms in new contexts as a means to challenge and deconstruct the obvious, and tease meaning out of absurdity,” the organisers state in their prize release conforming the ANNA prize winner for 2023.
“This award validated a lot of my own struggles and hard work, and quelled my doubts. My mind can’t grasp that I actually won.” – Nada Baraka Fluctuations of emotions triggered by various experiences build up to a narrative that eludes interpretation.
The core of her work is this process that seeks to narrate an experience through expressionist brushwork and surrealist methodology. A central aspect in those narratives is the concept of eruption, appearing as distorted forms, body parts, colours or layers, all bathed in a fluidity that is punctuated with striking detail. “As a female who believes in women empowerment and who struggles daily in a country that has one of the highest rates of harassment, it is important to keep pushing and to pursue my practice loudly and proudly. To have a voice that will continue to evolve. This will happen by experimenting more frequently, trying new mediums and exploring new topics as well.”
Runners -up
However the Egyptian artist is however not the only pone enjoying the limelight in this year’s competition.
“We are thrilled to announce that 2nd place goes to Alexandra-Naledi Holtman and 3rd place to Cazlynne Peffer. The 2023 ANNA Audience Award Every year the public is invited to vote for their favourite finalist. This year the ANNA Audience Award winner is… Buqaqawuli Nobakada. Buqaqawuli Nobakada’s primary medium is acrylic paint on laced paper, often with the use of custom clay or gold jewellery; wherein much of the passion in her work is expressed as she celebrates border crossings that take place in the imagination, the mind as well as in real life.
About the ANNA Award
The ANNA Award is presented by Latitudes Online and ANNA Pure Organics, South Africa’s first locally manufactured, environmentally friendly and organic menstrual product range. As the winner of the prize, Nada receives R100,000 cash, a profile on Latitudes Online, and a year’s supply of ANNA products.
About ANNA Pure Organic
This is South Africa’s first locally manufactured, environmentally friendly and organic menstrual product range is taking the lead in creating environmentally friendly sanitary products. The ANNA team believes that women who are conscious of their ecological footprint shouldn’t have to compromise comfort in the process of lowering their environmental impact. By providing environmentally conscious women with a real alternative to traditional plastic sanitary products, ANNA is empowering women to take ownership of, not only their own physical wellbeing, but the wellbeing of the environment, too. Find ANNA Pure Organic Pads and Liners at the following stockists: Ackermans. Checkers, DisChem, Faithful to Nature, Natural Options, Pick ‘n Pay, and selected Spars,” the organisers reveal.