Promoting visual arts and artists as a means of raising awareness of major national issues. This is the objective behind the Samudra Art Prize competition, which also seeks to make art accessible to as many people as possible and to reward the best talents.
The theme of the competition, which will culminate in an exhibition and a series of events at the Caudan Arts Centre in June 2022, is ‘Our Amazing Coral Ecosystems’.
The Samudra Art Prize is a free-to-enter award for excellence in visual arts and is open to all artists aged 15 and over. Participants may submit a maximum of three works in one of the following categories: Best Artist (experienced or professional artists), Best Amateur (aspiring) and Best Young Artist (15-19 years). Entries from Mauritians and residents of the island will be received online in March and April 2022 at http://samudraartprize.com.
Submissions may include painting and drawing, photography or video, sculpture, installation, ceramics, street art (proposal), printmaking, embroidery etc. The aim is to obtain a variety of techniques to introduce the public to the richness of the different artistic expressions.
Committed theme
This competition was conceived in 2020 when Caroline Giraud Leclézio, artist and graphic designer, and Mélissa Leclézio, Editorial Consultant, set up the Portraits for Mauritian Heroes project which invited artists to create a portrait of a frontliner.
“Samudra celebrates the talent and creativity of Mauritian artists. And since art is a great tool to raise awareness, the choice of a committed theme was also obvious,” says Caroline Giraud Leclézio.
The prizes
The prizes are intended to help the artists advance in their artistic careers. The shortlisted works will be displayed on the competition website and then exhibited at the Caudan Arts Centre for a period of three weeks in June. To date, there are 16 prizes to be won in all categories.
Category 15-19 years
MCB Best Young Artist 2022
Total prize fund: Rs. 160,000
The winner and the 4 runners-up will obtain:
– a 5-day custom-designed workshop of immersion, experimentation, and artistic guidance by professional artists, with the aim of producing at least one work for their portfolio.
In addition to the above workshop:
-the winner will obtain Rs. 20,000 in MCB savings bonds
-the four finalists will each obtain Rs. 5,000 in MCB savings bonds.
“The MCB is pleased to support the Samudra Art Prize 2022, whose primary objective is to promote Mauritian artists, while highlighting the sea, which is an integral part of our lives. We are keen to promote this kind of initiative, which is in line with Success Beyond Numbers, our sustainability programme. This competition provides a great platform for artists to express themselves, while at the same time raising awareness of the importance of preserving our oceans”, says Abraham RAWAT, Head of Retail SBU, MCB Ltd
Amateur Category
CIM Finance Best Amateur Artist 2022
Total prize fund: Rs. 120,000
The winner will receive Rs 42,000 in vouchers:
– for workshops conducted by professional artists
– for art materials
The three finalists will each win Rs 26 000 in vouchers:
– for workshops by professional artists
– for art materials
“We are delighted to be a partner of the Samudra Art Prize. CIM Finance is committed to promoting the visual arts and Mauritian artists. This initiative is an ideal platform to highlight our local talents and their passion for art. We are also very keen on using art to educate people on the importance of preserving the biodiversity of our marine ecosystem and the need to be more environmentally friendly”, says Mark Van Beuningen, Group CEO and Executive Director of CIM Financial Services.
Best Artist category
Sunny Food Canners Best Artist 2022
Total prize fund: Rs. 120,000
The winner and one runner-up will win two cash prizes to be distributed as follows:
– The winner: Rs. 80 000
– The finalist: Rs. 40 000
“Painting, sculpture, music, literature and the other arts reflect our society and part of our collective memories. We are glad to participate in this initiative to showcase the best art pieces our small island has to offer”, says Dick Li Wan Po, Deputy Managing Director, Food Canners Ltd
Individual Prizes
Participants in the Best Artist category will automatically be considered for the individual awards. Works judged outstanding by the juries of the Amateur and Young Artist categories will also be considered for these awards.
Medine Best Sculpture/Installation 2022
Cash prize of Rs. 50 000
Sculpture, installation, ceramics etc.
“Medine is proud to be associated with the Samudra Art Prize. The objectives of this prize are very important to us, namely the promotion of Mauritian art and the sensitization of the public to the issues facing our planet, in particular the safeguarding of our coral reefs which are becoming more and more fragile. Medine has a particular interest in sculpture and 3D and we are happy to be able to support the talent of artists”, says Dhiren Ponnusamy, CEO of Medine Group.
Africa Tech Holding Best Street Art 2022
A fee of Rs. 50,000 to create a mural.
Selection will be based on proposals. Samudra Art Prize will provide the wall and materials to the selected artist.
Maurice Giraud Prize for Best Painting 2022
Cash prize of Rs. 50 000
ArtSpace Best Portrait 2022
Value Rs 22 000
A 5-day workshop with an international portrait painter at Artspace Mauritius
The Caudan Special Prize 2022
The use of an exhibition room at the Caudan Arts Centre for two weeks. Value Rs. 50 000
