Sarah Biggs has been presented the 2015 TAF & Sylt Emerging Artist  Residency Award (TASA). She will take up her residency at the Sylt Foundation's headquarters on the island of Sylt, Germany in early 2016.  She will also show her work at the next year’s Turbine Art Fair 2016.

This Residency is awarded annually to an emerging artist living in South Africa as part of Turbine Art Fair and the Sylt Foundation's Residency Programme. The first winner in 2014 was artist Setlamorago Mashilo from Pretoria.

 “I feel so honoured and excited to be selected for this award. I am looking forward to spending my time on Sylt“, said an excited Sarah Biggs on being informed of her selection as the 2015 TASA winner.

 All the applications received were of a very high standard and were extremely strong contenders for this Award, making the judging panel’s task a difficult one. The five judges consisted of gallerist and art expert Warren Siebrits, artists Usha Seejarim and Andrew Tshabangu, the first TASA winner Stelamorago Mashilo and Glynis Hyslop, Managing Director, The Forum Company, organisers and sponsors of Turbine Art Fair.

The TASA prize will be officially awarded during the Turbine Art Fair, which takes place at the Turbine Hall in Johannesburg from 16th – 19th July 2015 where the works of 2014 winner, Setlamorago Mashilo, will be shown.

The judges were all impressed by Sarah Biggs’ work. “We were moved by the translucent, dreamlike technique and exceptional quality of her work. There is already a confidence in her work that is incredible and we anticipate that she will be very inspired by her time at Sylt and the island´s maritime environment of colours and seascapes.  Her work is a revival of the tradition of the Impressionists with a contemporary point of view.  She will greatly benefit from the immensely rich history of the German Impressionists on Sylt, of the works of Emil Nolde, Sprotte, Kirchner“, says Setlamorago Mashilo, winner of TASA 2014.

“We were extremely impressed by the high standard and innovative work that was submitted this year. It is very exciting to see the incredible talent of the young artists who are currently shaping the South African market“, says Glynis Hyslop, Managing Director, The Forum Company, organisers and sponsors of Turbine Art Fair.

Sarah Biggs´ TASA Award includes a 2-months residency on the Island of Sylt including a return airfare to Germany, a subsidised apartment with a generous allowance to cover her two month stay. The apartment is fully furnished and situated on the Foundation's grounds. Her new work will also be shown at TAF 2016.  

"The TASA award has found its place within the landscape of the South African contemporary arts. I am really excited that this year's winner Sarah Biggs will have the chance to engage with the delicate nature of the island through her art and am sure she will profit from the time on Sylt”, says Indra Wussow.

Turbine Art Fair

CV Sarah Biggs (pdf)

Press Release (pdf)