Zuma family slams painting
2012-05-20 07:43
Johannesburg - The daughters and brother of President Jacob Zuma criticised the artist of a painting of Zuma with his genitals exposed, the Sunday Times reported.
Zuma's brother, Michael, said the painting was disgusting and had brought nothing but disgrace to the family.
"It's the most disgusting thing that has ever been published or said about the president," he said.
"As a family, we are still in shock, because in our culture the parading of private parts is something that is a shame and is considered as showing disrespect to that person and others."
The 1.85m-high painting entitled "The Spear" is part of Cape Town artists Brett Murray's "Hail to the Thief II" exhibition at the Goodman Gallery in Johannesburg.
Stress
Michael Zuma told the Sunday Times that as a family they are planning a meeting to discuss the matter as the picture had put everyone under a lot of stress.
"I have been asking myself what kind of human being would do such a cruel and disrespectful thing about a president of the country and a father with little children," Michael added.
Zuma's daughters said the painting was not an issue of freedom of speech or expression but a depiction of Zuma in a "disrespectful, savage-like manner [and] something that can only be justified through a Eurocentric and negrophobia lens."
On Friday, the ANC launched an urgent court application in an attempt to stop the Goodman Gallery in Johannesburg and the City Press newspaper from displaying the painting.
The hearing would be held at the High Court in Johannesburg on Tuesday, spokesperson Jackson Mthembu said.
The ANC earlier sent the gallery a lawyers' letter demanding its removal, but gallery spokesperson Lara Koseff said its lawyers had responded that it would stay until the show was over.
The painting was widely condemned on Friday by, among others, Arts and Culture Minister Paul Mashatile, the presidency, the Congress of SA Trade Unions, the African Christian Democratic Party and the National Education, Health and Allied Workers' Union.
The Sunday Times reported that the painting had already been sold for R136 000 to a German buyer.
- SAPA
