2014: AUSTUN POWERS - IRISH GALLERY POKES FUN AT KIM JONG IN MOVIE PAINTING. Irish Daily Mirror. 19th April, 2014
An art gallery has poked fun at Kim Jong-un by displaying a piece of art showing the North-Korean leader as ‘Dr Evil’ from the Austin Powers movies. The hand spray painted art piece by Irish street artist Solus was commissioned by gallery owner Frank O’Dea after he saw a photo of it on a wall in Smithfield, Dublin.
It comes after a salon owner in London who put up a poster mocking the hairstyle of the communist dictator - known by North Koreans as the Dear Leader - was visited by two angry embassy officials who demanded its removal.
Gallery owner Frank O'Dea admitted he would be nervous if visited by officials but doesn't see it happening.
He added: “I'm just glad that we don’t have a North Korean embassy or consulate here in Ireland, otherwise I would have been expecting a visit from some officials.”
The North Korean dictator's attempt to assert his authority on the world inspired the Irish street artist Solas to create an Austin Powers-style mural in his honour last summer. On his Facebook page the artist wrote: "Kim Jung-un reminds me of this Austin Powers character Dr Evil. "They both want to put laser beam guns on sharks' heads."
Mr O'Dea considers Solus to be the top street artist in Ireland and revealed some believe he's Ireland's answer to global sensation, Banksy. He said: "But I don't know if he'd like that label. "Solus has upcoming exhibitions in New York and Canada.
"ADW and Fink are two other street artists that have growing reputations." The gallery is free for anyone to vist and look at the exhibition which features several other Irish artists.