#Switzerland #Lugano #BE OPEN Art #Akissi Beukman #Aislinn Finnegan

BE OPEN Art Celebrates Winners of Regional Art Contest in Southern Africa

On January 3, 2025, BE OPEN Art, an online art gallery founded by the humanitarian initiative BE OPEN, announced the results of its 2024 Regional Art Competition focused on Southern Africa. This competition aims to spotlight the talents of emerging artists from various countries including South Africa, Botswana, Zambia, and Angola.

The BE OPEN Regional Art Competition is dedicated to supporting artists whose works best reflect their cultural and regional identities. Throughout 2023 and 2024, a panel of experts from the BE OPEN community has curated a selection of artists whose creations have been featured on the gallery's platform. These efforts not only enhance visibility for these artists but also engage the public in the voting process to determine both monthly and regional winners.

Highlighted Artists

In October, Akissi Beukman was honored as the Artist of the Month. Based in Pretoria, South Africa, Akissi specializes in performance art, experimental sound art, and painting. A Rhodes University graduate with a degree in fine arts, her work delves into themes of gender, race, and political landscapes. Through her artistic expression, she communicates messages of spiritual healing and transformation.

November's recognition went to Aislinn Finnegan, a multimedia artist who identifies as mixed-race. Aislinn's illustrations address race, identity, and femininity, striving to celebrate and amplify aspects of Black culture in a predominantly Western-centric world. Her work encourages dialogue surrounding cultural beauty and identity.

The final accolade of the year was awarded to Natasha Mwila, a digital artist from Lusaka, Zambia, recognized in December. Natasha utilizes mobile technology to produce impactful collages inspired by her African heritage. Her artistic practice aims to highlight social and political complexities, particularly focusing on uplifting marginalized voices, especially women.

Upon tallying the votes, Aislinn Finnegan was crowned the regional artist for Southern Africa, receiving a €500 scholarship in recognition of her exceptional contributions to the arts.

Looking Ahead: Expansion to South Asia

As the 2025 cycle rolls out, the competition will expand to South Asia, seeking to discover emerging artists from Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Pakistan, Nepal, Afghanistan, and Sri Lanka. Notably, the foundation will offer additional monetary awards to recognize outstanding talent, in hopes of helping artists achieve successful careers in the arts. Elena Baturina, the founder of BE OPEN, remarked, "We aim to empower artists to continue dreaming, creating, and following their passions."

The BE OPEN Regional Art initiative stands as a significant platform for artists from diverse cultural backgrounds, facilitating their voices and the narratives woven through their artwork. This fosters community engagement and honors the rich artistic heritage of Southern Africa while preparing to cross borders into Asia.