Mandi-Anne Bezuidenhout obtained her BA Fine Arts Degree from the University of the Free State in 2012 and is currently reading for a MA Fine Arts Degree at the same institution. Mandi-Anne is a conceptual installation and photographic artist. She investigates strained interpretations of historic lesbian ideologies within visual culture and the way in which a spectator may be transported from an apathetic position of voyeurism to an empathetic regard. She was selected as a finalist for the Fractal Young Artist Exhibition in 2012 and co-curated the group exhibition. She has curated and participated in the Fine Arts and Affiliated Artist Exhibition at the Free State Arts Festival in 2013. Mandi-Anne was also selected as a finalist for the ABSA L’Atelier National Art Competition in both 2012 and 2013 and the Sasol New Signatures Competition 2013. In addition, the University of the Free State awarded her Best Conceptual Artist in 2012.
Mandi-Anne formed part of the PIKO/PIAD production team and was an assistant to the curator of the Johannes Stegmann Art Gallery: firstly in creative collaboration with artist Cigdem Aydemir on her project Plastic Histories as production assistant, photographer and assistant in augmented reality. Mandi-Anne was also volunteers coordinator in conjunction with being administrative assistant to OPENLab 2014 – The Art of Being Public, a national residency platform aimed at generating new strategies and ideas in site-specific, experimental and interdisciplinary practice. Secondly, as project manager and curatorial collaborator of the 2015 Free State Arts Festival opening event White Horse Project in partnership with the Australia Council for the Arts, SITUATE Art in Festivals, Free State Arts Festival and the University of the Free State.
Currently, Mandi-Anne is a senior lecturer at Brisley School of Art situated at Oliewenhuis Art Museum and is a freelance photographer for the University of the Free State. She is also a member of Fractal Contemporary Art Forum an ad hoc of the Friends of Oliewenhuis Art Museum.
Competition history:
2017 Overall Winner
2016 Entrant