Norman Catherine was born in East London, South Africa on September 1949. In 1969 he held his first solo exhibition consisting of oil paintings on wood, bone, wire and an assortment of found objects. His art has since undergone several metamorphoses, from the pristine airbrush paintings of the 70s to the frenzied, ritualistic mixed media works of the early and mid 80s; the wire sculptures and tin can works of the late 80s, and the primitive-futuristic paintings of the early 90s which provided the seeds for his pre-millennial menagerie of anthropomorphic beasts. In the thirty years spanning his past and present output, Catherine’s visual trademarks have included rough-edged comical and nightmarish forms, rendered in brash cartoon colours. His idiosyncratic vision - a combination of dark cynicism and exuberant humour, as well as his innovative use of everyday materials, has secured his place at the forefront of South African contemporary art.
On its 30th anniversary, the Legal Resources Centre is auctioning Art & Autographed Books. Artists include William Kentridge, Thea Soggott, Vusi Mfupi, and many more. Authors include Nelson Mandela, George Bizos, Nadine Gordimer, and many more.
The Legal Resources Centre is an independent, client-based, non-profit public interest law clinic which uses law as an instrument of justice. It works for the development of a fully democratic society based on the principle of substantive equality, by providing free legal services for the vulnerable and marginalised, including the poor, homeless, and landless people and communities of South Africa who suffer discrimination by reason of race, class, gender, disability or by reason of social, economic, and historical circumstances.
Sponsors: LRC would like to extend special thanks to the following contributors. In no particular order these include: Goethe Institute; Development Bank of Southern Africa; bidorbuy; David Lewis Browne Framing; Random House; Knysna Art Gallery; Contemporary Event Consultants; Art Angle; David Krut Projects; The Framing Company; Art Space.
