Be amazed at what can be created with concrete at these design pop-ups

Hosted by established art galleries around SA, the PPC Imaginarium Awards pop-up shows will reveal some of SA's top young design talent

27 March 2019 - 16:14
By Julia Freemantle
This Concrete Stone Ring (Mandala Ring) by Elmare Burger was inspired by Mandala colouring books.
Image: Supplied This Concrete Stone Ring (Mandala Ring) by Elmare Burger was inspired by Mandala colouring books.

The PPC Imaginarium Awards, now in its fifth year, has established itself as a powerful launch platform for up-and-coming local artists and designers.

This annual competition, spearheaded by PPC Cement, challenges creatives in various fields — jewellery, industrial design, fashion, sculpture — to come up with a design that somehow incorporates concrete, thereby broadening the scope of design possibilities using the material, and also demanding creativity from the entrants.

With cash prizes totalling R520k, entrants have a strong incentive to win or be a runner-up in their categories, which means the work produced is sublime. And, thanks to a series of pop-up exhibits around the country, you'll have a chance to see the 2019 finalists' creations firsthand.

The Association for Visual Arts (AVA) in Cape Town is hosting a exhibit on March 28 and 29, with further pop-ups in the Mother City, Durban, PE, Joburg and Harare, Zimbabwe, to follow. See ppcimaginarium.co.za/events for dates and venues.