Norman Catherine

Provenance

Property of a Gentleman.

Literature

Michael Stevenson (ed) (2001) Works From A Private Collection of Contemporary South African Art on Permanent Loan to The Chancellor Oppenheimer Library, University of Cape Town, Cape Town: University of Cape Town, illustrated in black and white and colour on back cover, unpaginated, cat. no. 6.

Notes

The 1990s marked a significant phase in Norman Catherine’s career. Shaped by South Africa’s changing political climate, Catherine leaned fully into his interest in the psychological, grotesque, and absurd. He became known for his small-scale sculptural works, often made from resin, polymer, and mixed media, which were frequently presented in vitrines or wall-mounted boxes. This period saw him develop a distinctive visual language that combined playful, cartoon-like forms with darker undertones, exploring themes of power, vulnerability, and human unease. ¹

The present lot, Close Shave, exemplifies this approach. It is a mixed media work depicting a tense interior scene in which figures, objects, and symbols compete for attention. Its bright colours and bold lines heighten a sense of pressure and unease. The title hints at a narrow escape or looming danger, echoed by the large profile in the foreground, which appears watchful and imposing. Ladders, tools, and fragmented faces suggest themes of control, surveillance, and performance. Beneath its playful surface, the work reflects on vulnerability, power, and the subtle anxieties embedded in everyday life.

^1. Everard Read (no date) Everard Read, Norman Catherine, online, accessed 22 January 2026.