Fine Art is typically a daunting industry to infiltrate. But when you do, and you are able to share stories and evoke insight through the power of creativity your message can serve positive contributions to society.
This is a short description of the lives of Egyptian born Iman Issa and Botswana born Meleko Mokgosi who were each awarded with $50 000 Vileck Prizes for Creative Promise in fine Arts.
The award is in sight of recognizing and supporting emerging immigrant artists who have made outstanding contributions to American Society. The Vileck foundation, created by immigrants from the former Czhechoslovakia pulsates to celebrate foreign artists in the United States of America and promotes fostering appreciation of the arts and science. With each of the artists who stem from two polarized posts in Africa, the award shows a strong diversity within fine arts.
Iman Issa is an Egyptian conceptual artists who creates objects and installations to confront philosophical questions. Originally, she studied phenomenolog , the study of structures of consciousness experience from the first person’s point of view. She then realized how art was a feasible space where one can explore such topics, and found herself realizing philosophical questioning through fine art. Her interest is within monuments and memorials – structures that serve a function. Her work has been exhibited at the Solomon R. Guggenheim museum, the 8th Berlin Biennial and the New Museum. She has received the DAAD 2017 artist in Residence award, the Louis Comfort Tiffany Foundation Award and the HNF MACBA Award.
Meleko Mokgosi is a considered painter, whose work is informed by hours of research, reading and conversations with people from many walks of life. Mokgosi believes the widespread of misrepresentation of Africa and its people has deepened violence to people of the continent. Through his art, he communicates a representation that is fair, a representation that is just. Through his artwork, it is easily told how much he is concerned with politics, and uses this as a backdrop to understand and shed light of power that shape structures from grassroot societies to nations. Mokgosi is a recipient of the Joan Mitchel Foundation Painters Grant and the Jarl and Pamela Mohn Award. His work has been exhibited at Art Basel, The Armony, The Hammer Museum and the Witney Museum.
