GRAPHIC CONTENT: The usual suspects: Political art gains public attention
JOBURG – Ayanda Mabulu's latest work is not the only one to criticise the current South African President
When it comes to political art, there are the few usual suspects who get the country talking.
There have been a couple of occasions that remain in the memories of South Africans when our political leaders have been called out – not verbally, but through various pieces of art.
Currently, Ayanda Mabulu is the centre of attention for his latest work depicting President Jacob Zuma being intimate with, and more specifically, licking the rear end of Atul Gupta of the infamous Gupta family.
Mabulu, who feels that his work on display at Constitution Hill is accurate in describing how the ANC and Jacob Zuma are ‘molesting’ the country, is not a first-time offender.
Last year he painted a similar work which depicted Zuma and an ANC politician, painted as a hyena, in sexual relations with a woman representing South African citizens.
These explicit works are not the only ones that gained national attention following their release.
Brett Murray’s The Spear, on display at the Goodman Gallery, was at the centre of attention in 2014. The painting depicted the president with his genitals hanging out of his pants, is much like a Zulu spear.
Someone who is no stranger to stirring up a story for his art is the popular newspaper cartoonist, Jonathon Shapiro, who is better known as Zapiro.
Let’s not forget the times he sketched the president unbuckling his belt and ready to ‘rape’ the justice system, or showering after relations with an HIV-positive woman.
These are some of the artists who create pieces intended to convey a message about the current state of affairs in the country and its prominent figures. Are there any other prominent political art pieces that stick out in your memory?
