The Old Diocesan Issue 12 - Magazine - Page 86
ART
EXHIBITION OF TALENT
The annual Sophy Gray Art Prize is awarded by the ODU to the
school’s top matric artist. The class of 2025 was a memorable
one for Head of Visual Arts Husain Essop
CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT: David Lewis
(G), John van der Watt (K), Farhaan
Barendse (K), Connor Fletcher (O),
Joey Lwande (W), Dominic Buswell (O)
A
s Picasso once said,
“Art washes away
from the soul the
dust of everyday life.”
This quote highlights the power
art has to renew our being, helping
us to momentarily escape the
pressures of ordinary life and
see the world in a more vibrant
and meaningful way.
The class of 2025 has taught
me this first-hand. Each student
brought excitement and passion
into the classroom, creating works
that allowed us, even if only for
a moment, to enter a new realm
or reality. This was the first group
that I carried through from Grade
8, and it brings me immense joy
to see these young men blossom
into great artists, each discovering
his own style and technique.
82 | THE OLD DIOCESAN
Watching their skills progress
year after year, culminating in one
of the finest matric exhibitions I’ve
been part of, has been incredibly
rewarding. I’m proud of this group,
not only for their strong practical
work, but also for their dedication
and depth in the theoretical aspects
of the subject.
I hope this class continues to
carry the passion and love for art
forward, and that no matter where
they find themselves in the future,
they will always turn to art to find
joy and peace in a busy world.
The Sophy Gray Art Prize
winners for 2025 were:
David Lewis (G) in 1st place
Connor Fletcher (O) in 2nd place
Matthew Owen (M) in 3rd place
