[The] winning work for this year’s SASOL New Signatures Visual Art Competition collapses one of the most fundamental rules of art exhibited in a museum setting, the do not touch rule. In a clear sense it carries the baton further from Kleynhan’s work Meditation on resentment (2024), which won last year’s edition of the art competition in that it retains physical interactivity. However, it does not halt at the invitation of tactility as through the act of interaction, it introduces cause an effect that was witnessed in the work Waters of Life (2024) that results in whistling. As such it contributes to the conversation of multimodality in contemporary art.
ARTIST’S STATEMENT
In the movement and flow of the existence of life, my ceramic artwork focuses on emulating the rhythmic patterns of breath. This artwork aims to be a metaphor for the cycles of the mind. Two whistles that are on two opposite sides are speaking—one a cry of liberation and joy, and the other a low, gentle echo of contemplation and unseen turmoil. Water is the essence of life and gives life to this artwork. In addition to that, it gives it a voice in the gentle flow from one state to the next, where we find comfort and a promise that even in the darkest moment, hope can come out as a whisper that becomes a triumphant cry of defiance. It is important for mental health that we don’t stay silent, but hold onto something—even if it’s just a small tremor of a voice—because like the ring of King Solomon states, “this too shall pass”
Trivia
During the interview with van Eck, there are sounds of leafing of pages that is audible. I could not help it but compare the two works as our conversation ensued. Fortunately, I had a copy of the 2024 catalogue.
26 September
© Mmutle Arthur Kgokong, 2025
To reference this audio documentation please cite:
Kgokong, M.A. 2025. Intraparadox, Interview with Juandré van Eck. Cycles of the mind. 4 Sep 2025. SNS25EditAmbient Mix. Mmutleak.com-Intraparadox.
Reference credits
List of figures
- Van Eck, Juandré. Cycles of the mind (2025). Ceramics. 53 cm x 46 cm x 21 cm
- Van Eck, Juandré. Waters of life (2024). Ceramics. 42cm x 32 cm x 16 cm
Afterwords
* Original Image of Juandré van Eck courtesy of SASOL New Signatures Art Competition
<> I remain grateful to Juandré van Eck for agreeing to sit with me for this interview. Le ka moso.
Intraparadox 