Following his win at the 2025 Sasol New Signatures Visual Arts Competition, emerging artist Juandré van Eck (Gqeberha) to the Pretoria Art Museum with his first major solo exhibition, Die Vallei van Adem that will open alongside the 2026 Sasol New Signatures exhibition on 10 September 2026.
Awarded annually to the overall winner of the Sasol New Signatures Visual Arts Competition, the solo exhibition forms part of the competition’s commitment to nurturing South Africa’s emerging visual artists by providing a significant platform to further develop and showcase their practice.
Building on the ideas explored in his winning work, Cycles of the Mind, Die Vallei van Adem presents a captivating body of ceramic sound vessels that challenge the traditional relationship between artwork and audience. Rather than existing as static objects to be viewed, the sculptures invite visitors to engage with them directly, transforming the exhibition into a shared sensory experience.
Each ceramic vessel is constructed from two connected chambers. As participants gently move the sculptures, they draw in air as though taking a breath. The movement of air through water gives every vessel its own distinctive voice bringing each work to life through participation.
Although each sculpture has its own voice, they have been designed to be experienced together. The smaller works produce higher tones, while the larger forms resonate with deeper sounds, creating something that feels closer to a choir than a collection of individual objects. As participants move through the exhibition, they contribute to an evolving soundscape. Rather than asking viewers to stand back and observe, Die Vallei van Adem invites them to give the work its breath and, in doing so, discover its voice within the valley.
“Winning Sasol New Signatures has given me the opportunity to push my practice further and realise my ideas on a much larger scale,” says Van Eck. “Die Vallei van Adem asks people not simply to look at the work, but to activate it. Every interaction gives the sculptures breath and voice, making each visitor part of the artwork itself.”
Cate Terblanche, Sasol Art Curator and Sasol New Signatures judge, says Van Eck’s practice exemplifies the innovation and ambition the competition seeks to encourage. “Juandré’s work demonstrates a remarkable understanding of material, concept and audience engagement. He transforms ceramics into something that is not only visually compelling but also deeply experiential, inviting participation in ways that expand our understanding of contemporary sculpture. It is exciting to see how his practice has evolved since winning a Merit award in 2024 and then being crowned the winner last year. His exhibition is a testament to the opportunities that the competition creates for emerging artists.”
Sasol New Signatures Visual Arts Competition remains South Africa’s longest-running platform for emerging visual artists. Van Eck’s solo exhibition will run alongside the 2026 Sasol New Signatures exhibition, which showcases the 123 selected artworks from this year’s competition, including the Overall Winner, Runner-up and Merit Award recipients. Together, the exhibitions celebrate both the discovery of South Africa’s newest artistic talent and the continued development of one of the competition’s most promising alumni, underscoring the vital role Sasol New Signatures plays in launching and nurturing artistic careers.
Die Vallei van Adem and the 2026 Sasol New Signatures exhibition opens to the public at the Pretoria Art Museum on 10 September 2026 and runs until 8 November 2026.
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