Johannes Phokela
From: 21 Jun 2012 To: 29 Jul 2012
Posted: 23 January 2012

“Most of my work,” says Phokela, “is a contemporary take on Old Dutch and Flemish Masters where I take on what is perceived to be Europe’s grandiose history of art as a medium to convey values and ideals represented within a global context of cultural elitism” (Dlamini, 2006).

One striking feature of Phokela’s satirical work is his use of a red nose, which appears every now and again in both his paintings and sculptures. He was inspired to use this clown-like nose after he had acquired one in the UK from the charity organisation, Comic Relief. But the nose did not fit his African physiognomy. “At first,” he says, “I thought I must have bought the wrong size, but in the end I realised that they were not really made for my type of nose” (Haines, 2002).
 
Oliewenhuis Art Musuem