Nada Baraka, an Egyptian artist based in Cairo, is the 2023 ANNA Award recipient.
Nada Baraka. Courtesy of Latitudes and ANNA.
After a vigorous selection process, in which an esteemed selection committee cast their votes for the 12 ANNA Award 2023 finalists, the winner is out.
Nada Baraka makes paintings that maintain an endless, active state of flux, swaying between abstract and surreal with her evocative application and vivid colours. Baraka seeks to generate forms in new contexts as a means to challenge and deconstruct the obvious, and tease meaning out of absurdity.
“This award validated a lot of my own struggles and hard work, and quelled my doubts. My mind can’t grasp that I actually won”, says Nada Baraka
Fluctuations of emotions triggered by various experiences build up to a narrative that eludes interpretation. The core of her work is this process that seeks to narrate an experience through expressionist brushwork and surrealist methodology. A central aspect in those narratives is the concept of eruption, appearing as distorted forms, body parts, colours or layers, all bathed in a fluidity that is punctuated with striking detail.
“As a female who believes in women empowerment and who struggles daily in a country that has one of the highest rates of harassment, it is important to keep pushing and to pursue my practice loudly and proudly. To have a voice that will continue to evolve. This will happen by experimenting more frequently, trying new mediums and exploring new topics as well.”
In 2nd and 3rd place…
Alexandra-Naledi Holtman. Courtesy of Latitudes and ANNA.
The 2nd place goes to Alexandra-Naledi Holtman and 3rd place to Cazlynne Peffer.
Cazlynne Peffer. Courtesy of Latitudes and ANNA.
The 2023 ANNA Audience Award
Every year the public is invited to vote for their favourite finalist. This year the ANNA Audience Award winner is… Buqaqawuli Nobakada.
Buqaqawuli Nobakada. Courtesy of Latitudes and ANNA.
Buqaqawuli Nobakada’s primary medium is acrylic paint on laced paper, often with the use of custom clay or gold jewellery; wherein much of the passion in her work is expressed as she celebrates border crossings that take place in the imagination, the mind as well as in real life.
The ANNA Award is presented by Latitudes Online and ANNA Pure Organics, South Africa’s first locally manufactured, environmentally friendly and organic menstrual product range. As the winner of the prize, Nada receives R100,000 cash, a profile on Latitudes Online, and a year’s supply of ANNA products.
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Latitudes is an online destination to explore and buy contemporary art from Africa. With a constantly changing, curated selection of art from the continent and the diaspora, the site brings together artworks presented by galleries, curators, studios, not-for-profit organisations and independent artists themselves.
The first platform of this kind dedicated to art from Africa, Latitudes is designed to help collectors discover creativity from the continent in a non-intimidating and accessible way. With over 1600 artists represented on the site, Latitudes is well on its way to becoming the largest online destination for art from Africa.
Passionate as the organisation is about identifying and nurturing new talent, Latitudes introduced an Education programme in 2021, through which it has mentored and directly benefited over 200 creatives in Africa.
