Mauritius Students Prize

Heidi Erdmann is art historian and curator based in Cape Town, South Africa. With a long-
standing entanglement with contemporary photography, she has made significant contributions to the art world as the founder of two successful commercial entities. Her curatorial vision and deep engagement with the visual arts have earned her national and international recognition and most of her projects are documented as published articles and/or exhibition catalogues. She is the author of the widely acclaimed art book Manfred Zylla: Art and Resistance.

In 2018, she expanded her academic and professional horizons by retraining and completing an MA degree and a short course in Estate Law. This marked the beginning of Legacy, her platform dedicated to heritage and legacy projects, through which she continues to explore the intersections of art, memory, and cultural preservation. Her academic research focuses on decolonial practices within museums of the Global South. More recently, her intellectual curiosity has led her to the history of the Indian Ocean Slave Trade, where she investigates the role of syncretic music in shaping cultural identity. Erdmann’s work stands at the crossroads of art, history, and justice-bridging past and present, with an eye always on legacy.

Howard Bilton, a British-born entrepreneur and barrister, has made a multifaceted impact on tax advisory services, philanthropy, and the wine industry in Portugal and beyond. His ventures reflect a unique blend of business acumen and social responsibility, creating a lasting legacy in each sector he touches. 

Tax

As the chairman and founder of The Sovereign Group, Bilton has significantly influenced the tax landscape, particularly for expatriates and international businesses. The Group provides comprehensive tax planning and wealth management services, which help clients navigate complex tax systems. By doing so, it supports individuals and companies to optimize their tax positions within the legal framework, fostering an environment that is conducive to foreign investment and economic growth in Portugal. 

Charity

In the realm of charity, Bilton’s establishment of The Sovereign Art Foundation has made a notable impact on the local and international art scenes. The foundation not only recognizes and supports artists through awards and exhibitions but also raises substantial funds for charitable causes. A significant portion of its work is dedicated to using art as a medium for educational and healing purposes, particularly for disadvantaged children. Through these initiatives, Bilton has harnessed the power of art to make a tangible difference in the lives of many, providing both cultural enrichment and social support. 

 Wine

With Howard’s Folly, Bilton has ventured into the wine industry, intertwining the worlds of oenology and art. The winery is known for producing high-quality wines that reflect the rich terroir of Portugal, contributing to the country’s reputation as a producer of fine wines. Beyond the production, Howard’s Folly serves as a cultural destination, hosting art exhibitions and events that attract visitors from around the world. This unique concept not only promotes Portuguese wine but also elevates the cultural experience of wine tasting, setting a precedent for how wineries can engage with the arts. 

Overall Impact

Howard Bilton’s impact in the fields of tax, charity, and wine is characterized by a forward-thinking approach that leverages professional expertise to foster cultural and social development. By integrating his business endeavors with philanthropic goals, Bilton has shown that commercial success can go hand-in-hand with making a positive social contribution. His efforts have provided a model for sustainable development, showcasing how individual dedication to professional excellence and social responsibility can lead to broad and beneficial societal impacts. 

Malika is a Mauritian National and studied Arts in India. She is inspired by Nature and Women. Nature through iconic plants and animals in the context of human kind and women through patience, grace and beauty in a male dominated world. Glimpses of peace and tranquillity in a self-destructive world come out in her paintings through movements and sounds that can be deciphered within. These strong emotions and icons are painted using light non-contrasting colours that reflect shades & gradients without corrupting or directing the mind of the viewer. Her works are mostly compositions based on historical events like slavery and futuristic ones based on hindu mythology.

Malika exhibited her work abroad in India in 2011 for IFACS, in Paris in 2011 and in Reunion Island in 2010. She also did several Solo & Group exhibitions locally and is currently an active member of the NGO Carpe Diem Art therapy.

Meha Desai is a Mauritian-Indian documentary photographer and writer whose work engages with long-form storytelling, focusing on migration, labour, climate change, and the quiet resilience of communities often left at the edges of dominant narratives. With a background in English literature and art history, she approaches photography as both document and dialogue — a way of paying attention, of spending time, and of being in conversation with the lives she photographs.
Her work often centres on women — their migrations, rituals, and the everyday negotiations that shape their worlds — and traces how communities carry culture, memory, and meaning through shifting landscapes. Her process is grounded in fieldwork, long-term engagement, and careful attention to context.

Desai collaborates with NGOs, grassroots initiatives, ethical brands, and editorial platforms to create photographs and stories rooted in trust, consent, and care. Whether building a visual archive for a cultural project or documenting a public health campaign, her work stays close to the ground and to the people at its heart.

Her photography and writing have appeared in Harper’s Bazaar India, Whetstone, Magazine, Eater, and Goya Journal, and have been exhibited in Mauritius and internationally. Alongside her visual work, Desai fosters community through initiatives like Lasam Maron, a travelling library and platform for feminist and marginalised voices developed in partnership with resort, a collective of artists focused on care-based practices and alternative cultural production. She is also a co-curator at resort.

She was born in a family where Art, in its different forms manifested before her, whether it was theatrics, paintings or classical dance.

She received a Bachelor in Fine Arts (Interior Decoration) from the prestigious Sir J.J. School of Arts, Mumbai, India. Soon after, she started her career as an interior designer. Feeling drawn to painting and teaching, she eventually became an Art Educator, taking pride in sharing her
passion.

She has the ability to adapt to various techniques such as acrylics and mix media. Her artworks reflect a major influence of geometry and symbols of ancient societies.

She is continuously inspired by the positive energy flow around her, which resonates in her artworks and believes that there is no better teacher than life.