WSU LECTURER WINS BEST 3D ARTIST AWARD AT EASTERN CAPE ARTS HONOURS

WSU Fine Art Lecturer, Sonwabiso Ngcai received the Best 3-Dimensional Artist award at the Provincial Arts, Culture and Heritage Excellence Awards hosted by Sports, Recreation, Arts and Culture MEC Sibulele Ngongo in Mbizana last week.

Ngcai was amongst a distinguished lineup of Eastern Cape talent honoured on the evening for their contribution to the arts, including celebrated thespians such as Gqeberha: The Empire actress, Zikhona Sodlaka and Vusi Thanda of Emzini Wezintsizwa fame.

“Personally, this recognition affirms my growth, not only as an artist but as an individual. It is a reminder of the journey I have travelled and the resilience it required. Professionally, it signals that my contributions to the visual arts industry are recognised and valued,” said Ngcai.

Earning him a spot amongst the greats was Ngcai’s 2025 solo exhibition at the National Arts Festival in Makhanda, titled Iyozala nkomoni na? / Ngebhaqo.

“The exhibition brought together two bodies of ceramic work exploring parallels between material process and lived experience. Conceptually, the work reflects on uncertainty, endurance, and the unpredictability of life, ideas deeply rooted in both personal and collective narratives,” said Ngcai.

Growing up in his rural hometown of Buntingville Location in Ngqeleni, Eastern Cape, Ngcai spent his childhood moulding clay sourced from nearby riverbanks.

That early connection to the medium laid the foundation for a practice he now describes as both a space of inquiry and a deeply personal encounter with self.

Through his art, Ngcai often seeks to interrogate social issues such as cultural identity, and the evolution of tradition.

“Living and working in the Eastern Cape informs my understanding of heritage, transition, and resilience. These lived experiences become embedded in the material processes and conceptual frameworks of my work, giving it authenticity and distinctiveness,” Ngcai reflected.

The fine art lecturer asserted that alternating between the classroom and his personal studio was a labour of love which benefited both himself and his students.

“Being an active practising artist in academia benefits students greatly—they witness the creative process firsthand and understand the standards required in the professional art world. At the same time, my engagement with students and contemporary discourse keeps my own practice dynamic and reflective,” he said.

By Yanga Ziwele