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Norman O'Flynn, né en 1971
Norman O'Flynn, South African b.1971- It's Never too Late to be a Man I & II; oil on canvas, both signed, titled on the reverse, 199x149cm., ea., (2) (unframed) Note: Born in 1971 in Cape Town. His work gives off an impression of false simplicity that works to complement the complex set of questions being posed in relation to power and the larger state of humanity. 'It's Never Too Late To Become A Man' is undoubtedly playing with the much written and spoken about idea of African Renaissance. These paintings are a direct response to President Thabo Mbeki's speech, which he delivered to the United Nations University in 1998. The paintings utilize classical imagery, which Norman has adopted from the 16th Century Italian Renaissance. On the surface the artist has created sketches, which outline familiar images, in a Leonardo Da Vinci and Michelangelo style and underneath the sketches he interweaves proverbial images of present day South African iconography. He makes references to the activist, Steve Bantu Biko and underneath to the terrifying lynch mobs. In the work he reveals the classic sculpture by Jane Alexander known as, The Butcher Boys and William Kentridge's, Parts of the Cow, alongside these icons he adds an Afronaut, a Bushman and a half-shaven sheep. The paintings aim to create a series of juxtapositions between the paradoxical South African multi-cultures. 'It's Never Too Late To Become A Man' Exhibited at Bell Roberts Gallery, Cape Town, South Africa 2007 and The Coningsby Gallery, London, England 2009.
