The painting is on display at the Goodman gallery and I must say it looks smashing. But apparently the presidency is not too chuffed about it. “We are amazed at the crude and offensive manner in which this artist denigrates the person and the office of the President of the Republic of South Africa,” Zuma’s spokesperson Mac Maharaj said on Friday. Uncle Mac also says nobody had the right to violate the dignity and rights of others while exercising their own. “Other than his position as Head of State and as President of the ruling party, President Zuma as a citizen has a right to human dignity, which is enshrined in the Constitution of the Republic. No human being deserves to be denigrated in this shocking manner.”
Maharaj said they were also concerned that the painting perpetuated a shocking new culture by some sections of the artistic world, of using vulgar methods of communicating about leading figures in the country, in particular the President.
Good for The Goodman Gallery who said they will not remove the painting. This is freedom of expression with loads of artistic expression and off course a good bunch balls from Murray himself.
