Pimp My Spear

HANGING OUT AT THE GALLERY: Another portrait of a naked President Zuma is causing a stir, following the drama created by Brett Murray's 'The Spear'. The latest version, by Ayanda Mabulu, chucks out the spear as inspiration for his work 'Umshini Wam (Weapon of Mass Destruction)' and replaces it with the president's weapon of choice; a machine gun. Predictably, cartoonists have responded enthusiastically to the development.

The painting is on display at the AVA Gallery in Cape Town with a R75 000 price tag. Zuma is shown dancing in traditional attire with his penis exposed, entitled "Umshini Wam" (Weapon of Mass Destruction).

Mabulu (pictured here with the painting) has defended his work by saying, "He is not naked; I did not paint him with an uncircumcised penis. This is a metaphor that shows he is not a boy; he is a man, an elder, a father, a leader".

This is not the first time Mabulu has courted controversy with his artworks which often serve to make political or social commentary, as this 2010 work featuring Zuma, Robert Mugabe, George Bush, Saddam Hussein, PW Botha, Nelson Mandela, the Pope and Desmond Tutu demonstrates.

SEE THE CARTOONS HERE.

Posted on Sep 03, 2012 by Africartoons