Miné Kleynhans, a 34-year-old sculptor from Bloemfontein, was crowned the overall winner of the 2024 Sasol New Signatures Art Competition for her interactive installation Meditations on Resentment. Employed as the Project Coordinator at the University of the Free State’s Art Gallery, Kleynhans’ career is marked by notable international collaborations and a strong creative presence in the art world. Her latest winning piece allows participants to confront and express resentment, a suppressed emotion, through ritualistic interaction.
Learn more about Miné’s journey, the inspiration behind her work, and her thoughts on winning the prestigious competition.
Tell us what your reaction was when you received the news that your work had been selected.
[MINÉ KLEYNHANS]: My heart started thumping in my chest when I heard I was a finalist – I was very happy and excited.
Is this the first time you have entered the competition? If so, why, and if not, how many times and why is this competition important for you?
[MINÉ KLEYNHANS]: I entered before in 2019. My work was selected at the regional entry point but didn’t go further. The Sasol New Signatures Art Competition is important because it has a large national reach. It brings emerging artistic voices together and offers support that can significantly impact winners’ careers. Being selected as a finalist is very encouraging.
Tell us a little about your artistic journey up until entering Sasol New Signatures 2024.
[MINÉ KLEYNHANS]: I studied Fine Arts at UFS and completed my Master’s degree there. Since then, I’ve continued creating new work, exhibiting, entering competitions, and applying for residencies whenever possible. Like many artists who are also employed, I’ve created sporadically, but my conceptual language has only recently solidified.
Who has had the biggest influence on your career as an artist to date?
[MINÉ KLEYNHANS]: I’ve been fortunate to have Willem Boshoff as a co-supervisor, and his depth of artistic thinking has made a lasting impression on me.
Tell us a little about why you created the piece you submitted.
[MINÉ KLEYNHANS]: I’m interested in articulating suppressed or unnoticed emotions that shape people’s habitual thinking. Resentment is hard to admit and difficult to share openly. It’s a semi-conscious emotion, yet it strongly impacts people’s lives. ‘Sanctioning’ its expression felt dangerous but necessary to acknowledge.
Tell us about your preferred mediums and why.
[MINÉ KLEYNHANS]: I’ve recently used solid wood, copper, and brass, though I’ve explored other mediums. I enjoy wood because its grain reveals itself to you, and you adapt your concept to it, strengthening the work.
I’ve recently used solid wood, copper, and brass, though I’ve explored other mediums. I enjoy wood because its grain reveals itself to you, and you adapt your concept to it, strengthening the work.
[MINÉ KLEYNHANS]: I hope it makes people physically interact with it, perhaps feeling a seductive quality. Although difficult in a gallery setting, I designed the piece to facilitate a ritual and prompt people to engage with their less forgiving emotions.
Why do you think your work was chosen as one of the winning works?
[MINÉ KLEYNHANS]: It’s hard to guess, but I put a lot of thought into every aspect of the installation. I considered what resentment feels like – sharp, shiny, hard – and how it feels to kneel and interact with the piece. I hope they saw it as thoroughly thought out and perhaps a bit unusual.
How would winning this competition change your life?
[MINÉ KLEYNHANS]: It will definitely change how I see my practice and myself as an artist in an exciting, but perhaps scary, way. I think it will take time for the impact to fully sink in.
Which South African artists do you admire and why?
[MINÉ KLEYNHANS]: That’s tough because there are so many. Besides Willem Boshoff, I admire Bronwyn Katz and Sonya Rademeyer for listening to the deep, ephemeral currents underneath how things are.
Do you have an idea of what your solo exhibition would look like if you were crowned the overall winner?
[MINÉ KLEYNHANS]: Yes, I imagine filling the gallery with ‘game-like’ sculptural pieces people can interact with. I’d also love to create larger-scale works.
Anything else you’d like to add?
[MINÉ KLEYNHANS]: I owe so much to the friends and family who’ve supported me, from sharing workshop space to offering feedback. I’m incredibly grateful for that.
Kleynhans’ win is a testament to her thought-provoking exploration of human emotions and her ability to create immersive, interactive art. Keep an eye out for her upcoming solo exhibition at the Pretoria Art Museum in 2025.
Featured Image(s) Source & Interview: Supplied
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