Durban - Ayanda Mabulu will not apologise for his latest controversial painting of President Jacob Zuma instead he has vowed to continue using art to express his frustration.
“Those who find the painting offensive are the comfortable middle class, not the poor,” the artist said.
Mabulu’s painting, titled Spear Down My Throat (The Pornography of Power), depicts Zuma with his penis down the throat of a woman, who the artist says represents the country, while she is being penetrated by a hyena in a Victorian suit.
At the same time, the woman is also being milked into an urn with an ANC label.
The painting has been posted on the Facebook page of the magazine Culture Review and is attracting both negative and positve comments.
CLICK HERE TO SEE THE PAINTING. WARNING: GRAPHIC CONTENT
The Joburg-based artist says that he chose to depict Zuma in that particular way because he believed that the president had “sold out” his people.
“He is like those chiefs that sold their people to colonial masters. The picture represents those that are in control of South Africa’s economy,” said Mabulu.
He said that South Africans were being molested economically by those in the painting.
“The people were promised certain things and this has not materialised. They are instead taken for granted and their problems have become a laughing matter,” he said.
Mabulu said that the painting accurately described the current situation in South Africa.
There was mixed reaction to IOL’s trending topic #ZumaPainting on Twitter.
@E_Piscator tweeted: “Here's a standing ovation for the artist of the #ZumaPainting. Most accurate depiction of SA politics to date!”
“Art isn't meant to be respectful. Its meant to challenge. People must get their emotions out of it n see the pic 4 what it is #ZumaPainting,” said @kayduuu.
But some tweeps weren’t impressed. @LaurenH_ZA said: “I understand what Mabulu is saying with the #ZumaPainting (it's hard not to) but when (particularly) men depict women being raped...”
@Pholoho tweeted: “Freedom of Speech never said anything about disrespecting my elders. #ZumaPainting is a disgrace.”
The Presidency was contacted but declined to comment.
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* We're streamlining comments on this story, so please come talk to us on social media. Our question: Do you agree/disagree with Ayanda Mabulu's representation of South Africa? Tell us why using the hashtag: #ZumaPainting
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