Tuesday, May 22, 2012

The Spear of the Nation

For the last couple of days the news has been buzzing with the, apparently, scandalous painting of President Jacob Zuma, by well renowned South African artist Brett Murray. I say apparently, because not everyone was scandalised by the painting. I though it was to the …err…point. Other fractions claimed outrage! A president should not be insulted like that! It’s racism (Huh?) etc etc.

This is the way I see it. An artist may portray what he likes. A gallery may display what it wants. It’s called Freedom of Expression. No-one is asked to like it, or approve of it. Some people will agree with the artist’s statement, others not.  Art is supposed to spark debate, stir emotions. Otherwise it would just be three plaster ducks on a wall.
The ANC need to take a big girl pill. Had they decided not to comment or rather to joke about it, the painting would never have received the publicity it did. The majority of the population would be none the wiser about it (as the art gallery visiting population in South Africa is a very small community). By going on and on about it and kicking up such a huge fuss about a painting (or cartoons as has been the case in the past), the ANC once more has shown that it is petty and full of itself and that it cannot accept a shred of criticism. Earth to Uranus: NOT EVERYBODY LIKES YOU! Grow up and accept it.
As if the painting of JZ junk should outweigh the fact that there is another scandal at a local hospital where there is no medication, no equipment, no staff because funds have been mismanaged. Now you tell me what should get the biggest publicity and is the more important issue?
I also have to take my hat off to Zapiro with his great cartoon after the event. I wonder how long it will take the ANC to sue him… Again…




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