Mr Joe Madisia, Director of the NAGN, shares some of his thoughts on the upcoming Triennale: “The Triennale will be, besides all the previous art competitions, the first of its kind in Namibia in that this competition is not about rivalry between artists, but rather a spirit of sharing the refinement and renewal of past art practices.” 

“It is also the first time in the history of Namibia that an international African art critic will be the main juror. Professor Yacouba Konate is from the University of Cocody in Ivory Coast and a well respected curator, art critic, lecturer and writer. A colleague of Professor Konate, Mr Jean Paul Blachere, is an art collector from France and will also come to Namibia to specifically view the Triennale.”  

“The local judges selected have the very important task of handling the preliminary adjudication. This team consists of Kay Cowley from the College of the Arts, Home of the Bank Windhoek Arts Festival; Rika Nel from the Windhoek College of Education; Imke Engelhardt, a jeweler from Swakopmund; Diaz Machate,  a renowned bronze statue caster and sculptor in Namibia; and lastly Zodidi Gaseb, a junior curator at the National Art Gallery of Namibia. This composition of judges reflects a wide range of expertise that will ensure healthy dialogue and debate during the preliminary judging session.”

 “Artists who have entered their artworks for evaluation into the Bank Windhoek Triennale reveal their willingness to participate and to share their passion as makers of art with the wider public. Also, the idea to share their creations with each other as co-artists is tangible evidence of intellectual exchange among themselves. Artists are very individualistic, some prefer to experiment and sample a wide variety of materials, techniques and styles simultaneously, while others prefer individual bodies of works reflected in a singular or closely related theme or idea. Some jurors and collectors might be attracted to works of art that suggest multiple answers while others may seek only one single obvious one. This means an easy understanding of a work with a single obvious answer may signal the beginning and the end of the viewers’ interest and enthusiasm. Art with multiple answers may in turn signal repeated visits, meaning more effort to see reflects appreciation.”

 “Understanding an artist’s intention is crucial in evaluating how successful he or she can articulate the content of the work of art presented.  It is also important to see more than one work of an artist, because it provides one with the opportunity to exercise criterion to evaluate. This is one of the reasons why we requested three artworks to be submitted. The strongest artworks are usually those in which the artist have made a conscious attempt to pursue inventive solutions rather than repeated proven, trite or contrived formulas. Fuelled by a compulsion to take risks, some artists are able to display a rich imagination. As a result some artists’ works leave a “record” of the interaction between the maker and his or her art.”

 “The artists’ understanding of the inherent qualities, possibilities, limitations and appropriateness of materials and techniques is also a very important indicator to become aware of skills and knowledge applied. It is important to be aware in how well grounded the makers are in the formal values of their art: composition, color, design, texture, tones, line, pattern and form. Other unique characteristics of a great artist - be it a printmaker, a woodcarver, a sculpture, a painter or a potter - is the ability to breathe life into an inert piece of material.”

 “To the 2008 Bank Windhoek Triennale entrants: There are many reasons why artworks are rejected, accepted, given awards, or pass over for recognition. Remember that "beauty is in the eye of the beholder."  An individual judge is designated as an expert in the judging process.  He or she may not like dolphins, or tomatoes or even just your frame selection, but she or he is not the only judge, there are five preliminary adjudicators and one main judge.”

 “Finally, I am grateful for the generosity of the many participating artists who are willing to share their artworks with each other, willing to be evaluated and to be viewed by art lovers and the public. This 2008 Bank Windhoek Triennale will serve as testimony of their journey as Namibian artists. A journey in which we will all will become wiser and richer.”