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SA WILDLIFE PUTS A HUMOROUS SPIN ON 2010 WORLD CUP
From a leopard cub clutching a soccer ball to zebras crossing a soccer pitch a renowned South African wildlife artist has humorously married wildlife and football ahead of the 2010 Fifa World Cup.
Durban artist Ian van Zyl whose paintings have been auctioned at Christie's in London, was commissioned by Fifa to produce works for a World Cup related fine art collection.
Van Zyl is one of several African artists whose works have been included in the 2010 African Fine Art Collection, which is endorsed by Fifa for the production of fine art and art collectables.
Van Zyl whose works hang in many private collections around the world, produced
African Game a set of 12 paintings which will go on display for sale during the World Cup.
"It's tongue-in-cheek stuff.....it's not really fine art as opposed to my other work, I thought it would be fun for the soccer populace" said van Zyl this week.
"The most difficult part was drawing the soccer ball, not the animals. One just had to think of different scenarios, and using young animals as well made it fun" he said.
Added to that, each painting has a humorous title. The painting of the zebras is titled "Pitch Invasion", a leopard cup clutching a soccer ball is called "My Ball" and a painting of a lion cub holding soccer boots is called "Lion Club"
Signed limited-edition prints are available from various galleries including Kizo Art Gallery in Durban and Graham's Fine Art Gallery in Johannesburg and on the 2010 Fine Art web-site. Prints cost between R2000 and R3000 with the entire collection costing about R28000.
The images which incorporate the Big Five may later be considered for use in Fifa 2010 calendar.
"l think these paintings will have a universal appeal because of the subject matter and the funny situations the animals are in, said Van Zyl.
I have a pretty lateral way of thinking so that's how I came up with the ideas. I think the emphasis on fine art for the World Cup is terrific because it puts a whole new spin on the sport. One would never associate football with fine art."
Rob Spaull, 2011 Fine Art's general manager said Van Zyl was selected because he was one of the most talented and sought-after wildlife painters in South Africa.
"Ian's works bring a very important component to the collection - by including the iconic images of African wildlife that are expected by so many of our international clients, but doing so in a way that is at the same time ironic, humorous and also expressive of his abiding love for his living subjects" said Spaull.