Marlene van Niekerk
Marlene van Niekerk’s novel tells the life-story of a dying woman and her complex relationship with the domestic worker / foster child / care-taker. But it is, in fact, also the history of the Afrikaner’s loss of power.
Hermann Giliomee
Hermann Giliomee originally wrote his awarded book, Die Afrikaners: ’n Biografie, in English under the title The Afrikaners – Biography of a people (2003). It tells the story of the Afrikaner’s survival, from the colonial period through to the twenty-first century. It was an instant top-seller and the Afrikaans translation of the work, by the author himself, was just as popular.
Bronwen Findlay
Findlay enjoys the surprise of combining things that are not normally seen together. Her collection is displayed in her home and serves both decorative and functional purposes, creating a living environment rather like a three-dimensional painting ... [her] interest in objects as source material for her art-work does not lie in ‘straight’ renderings, however, and illusionism is not a goal. Rather she is concerned with a translation of reality through the process of intense looking and painting. (Charlton 2007)
Roelof Temmingh
The Helgaard Steyn Award for 2006 was significant for two reasons. Firstly, the prize money was worth over R100 000, which made this award one of the most valuable for arts in South Africa. Secondly, the previous winner for Composition (in 2002), Prof. Roelof Temmingh, was once again selected as the winner.
Jan van der Merwe
“At present I work with artifacts of our time and attempt to transform them into archaeological remnants.”
“The installation becomes an indoor monument to the universal history of ordinary people, their politics and religion and their treasuring of valuables. Rust refers to the transient nature of everything, a return to original matter.” (Hundt ed. 2005)
Dan Sleigh
He made his literary debut in 1974 with the volume of poetry entitled Duif oor water. This was followed by historical works for young people, e.g. Die buiteposte and Tussen twee vlae.
Cyril Coetzee
Coetzee is currently curator for Exact Imagination: 300 Years of Botanically Inspired Art in South Africa, for Standard Bank Gallery (October to December 2014).
Roelof Temmingh
Early challenging compositions earned him a reputation as enfant terrible of South African music of that time. Since the mid-eighties more moderate and listener-friendly music evolved, representing the more important compositions.
Willem Boshoff
Willem Boshoff creates primarily language/text-related art prepared over long periods and referring to a social context in the form of large installations, visual poetry, concrete poetry, sculpture. Uses wood, stone, objet trouve, mixed media and various graphic media.
JC Kannemeyer
Kannemeyer lectured “Afrikaans en Nederlands” at the University of Cape Town, the RAU (now the University of Johannesburg) and the University of Stellenbosch. He was also a professor in “Afrikaans en Nederlands” at the University of the Wit- watersrand from 1982 to 1987.