The Investec Cape Town Art Fair recently crowned their Emerging Artist Award winners. Ben Stanwix and Xhanti Zwelendaba walked away with the award for their outstanding work on Thaba Nchu, where history meets art.
Investec’s Cape Town Art Fair aims to establish a bridge between South African artists and the international art scene. In its 12th edition, the competition saw over 20 submissions in their new category for emerging artists. This award recognises and celebrates South African artists who have not yet held their own solo exhibition or art show.
The selection process involved a comprehensive evaluation by a jury panel of art enthusiasts and collectors. Amongst them were Cumesh Moodliar, CEO of Investec South Africa and Itumeleng Merafe, Head of Investec Private bank. James Cook, a consultant within Investec’s Corporate and Institutional Banking division, was also on the panel. The criteria included originality, artistic vision and potential for future growth.
Moodliar says: “Art has the power to leave a lasting impression on those who experience it, creating a legacy that lives far beyond the artist themselves, and value well beyond wealth.”
Ultimately, the award lends itself to Investec’s commitment to cultural enrichment and investment in the arts. Peta Dixon, Head of Sponsorships at Investec, says: “South Africa is home to diverse artistic expressions that deserve world-wide recognition. We are excited to help elevate and amplify the voices of emerging talents like Ben Stanwix and Xhanti Zwelendaba.”
Represented by Reservoir Gallery, Stanwix and Zwelendaba reimagined a historical postage stamp from the 1830s for their submission. The Cape Town-based duo used an assortment of fabrics and a cotton canvas to bring Thaba Nchu to life.
Stanwix says: “In this work, there is the image with its own story and history, but also the material object which needs to have scale to be successful… yet, has quite delicate colours and textures. I think contradiction is important to us. Even the fact of taking something as small as a stamp and remaking it at scale holds a certain immediate appeal.”
Interestingly, this art piece revisits a missionary gathering in the town of Thaba Nchu during the 19th century. At the time, French and British missionaries had begun to settle in the area and formed a working relationship with the Basotho and Tswana leaders. This partnership was strategic and aimed to protect the indigenous groups against colonial influence, religious expansion and contested land narratives. Issues often still prevalent today.
Moodliar says that whilst “the message behind this piece is not immediately obvious, the more one interacts with the work, the more it draws you in.”
While the journey has just begun for Stanwix and Zwelendaba, emerging South African artists are invited to travel the same path by applying for the 2026 Emerging Artist Award here.
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