Beijing exhibition for Van der Schijff, part of Dak'Art prize

Prize art: Johann van der Schijff's award-winning work will be exhibited in Beijing in July, part of an African art exhibition in the build up to the 2008 Olympic Games.

Johann van der Schijff, artist and senior lecturer in new media at the Michaelis School of Fine Art, will wing his way to Beijing in July to participate in an exhibition of African art, a prelude to the 2008 Olympic Games.

The trip is part of the Zuloga Corporation Award prize he won at the International Exhibition of Dak'Art 2008, the 8th Biennale of Contemporary African Art, in Dakar, Senegal.

In fact, Van der Schijff won two prizes at the exhibition. The second was the European Union Award, which includes a possible exhibition of his work, or a workshop, in Senegal.

He exhibited three works at Dak'Art: Peerbal, Hangbal and Staansak, interactive objects that invite the viewer to play.

"Artwork has a playful interaction with its audience," is Van der Schijff's philosophy. It reflects his penchant for Dadaism, and his eye for absurdity and humour.

Van der Schijff was one of six South African artists among the Dak'Art exhibitors, chosen from 17 African countries and the diaspora.