The South African art scene recently witnessed the crowning of a rising star as Mafikeng-born multidisciplinary artist Boemo Diale secured the prestigious Tomorrows/ Today Prize at the 11th Investec Cape Town Art Fair. The accolade, South Africa’s most esteemed visual art award for emergent and under-represented artists, carries a prize of R80,000, recognizing Diale’s burgeoning art career and the captivating nature of her work, both in the present and for the foreseeable future.
At just twenty-three years old, Diale, hailing from Parkhurst, Johannesburg, stands as one of the youngest artists showcased at this year’s fair. Her work, deeply rooted in exploring themes of queer identity and spirituality, revolves around the binomial relationship between the human body and the utilitarian pot or vessel. Diale employs this unique iconography to delve into the wild, utilizing introspection and healing as central motifs in her artistic expression.
Diale’s selection for the prestigious prize was made by an international jury led by Tomorrows/ Today Italian curator, Dr. Mariella Franzoni, who operates between Spain and South Africa. The jury also included Zeitz MOCAA Curator Tandazani Dhlakama and Heba El Kayal, an independent curator and researcher based in Cairo and London.
Dr. Mariella Franzoni emphasized the exponential growth of the Tomorrows/ Today curated section, which played a more substantial role at this year’s Investec Cape Town Art Fair. The section serves as a vital platform for emerging and underrepresented artists, forecasting future relevant practices and ideas. Themed “Inhabiting the Wild,” the 2024 edition of Tomorrows/ Today sought to explore and reimagine the concept of wildness through various artistic lenses.
Franzoni expressed her perspective on the theme, stating, “I understand ‘unbounding’ to be a way of getting rid of the dualities that inform our way of thinking. For me, ‘wildness’ is the most unbound and unconstrained way we can live, and so is a way of thinking that is broad enough for different artists to respond to – how do we overcome the dualities of nature/civilization, or masculine/feminine?”
Tomorrows/ Today 2024 featured artists from 12 different galleries and projects worldwide, showcasing the global reach and diversity of the contemporary art scene. The 11th edition of the Investec Cape Town Art Fair attracted close to 30,000 visitors, reaffirming its status as a premier platform for contemporary African art.
As we eagerly anticipate the next installment, the Investec Cape Town Art Fair is already gearing up for its 2025 edition, scheduled to take place from 21 to 23 February 2025. Boemo Diale’s recognition is not only a testament to her artistic prowess but also a celebration of the broader movement to uplift and spotlight emerging talents in the vibrant South African art landscape.