// My last thoughts on this matter: Don’t Apologize //

This is the last time I talk about this painting.

Yes I’m about to talk about this painting that has been creating a stair in our country.

The painting is now worth so much money. I must say that this German guy is so lucky and has gotten a huge bargain. He literally owns a piece of our history and this artwork is definitely the start of many more things to come.

So what do I feel about the presidents “artificial business” hanging out for there for the whole world to see?

The artist in me leans towards the fact that this is art and artificial. I do feel that Bret should have approached or warned the president before exhibiting this piece of art. A lot of people have expressed the fact that they felt the president’s business hanging was unnecessary. I’d like to say that nothing can ever be unnecessary and Bret Murray did this for a reason.

The painting has a very strong comment on the current status of South African politics. Some art intellects have noticed the painting is similar to that of the Lenin propaganda portrait. Bret Murray has represented Zuma in the same position as Lenin but the only thing he has added to the new painting is Zuma’s “business”. Why does he do this? Simply to comment on Zuma’s leadership and how he has basically been the joke of the media during his term. Julius Malema on many platforms has stated that he believes Zuma is a dictator and this painting for me speaks of how Zuma has been unsuccessful in being a dictator. I certainly do think that this is an unrealistic goal for Zuma has it is clear that his actions are influenced by a number of different people.

There is an art community in South Africa

It’s amazing how many people have been made aware of the art community in South Africa as well as how many people flocked to Goodman gallery over the past two weeks. This has certainly created talk around the issues that we thought we had resolved as a country. This painting has also made people abuse the word racist. From the ANC saying this painting is racist to the anonymous person who has started a movement of confident racist.

On the other side I’d like to say that Zuma is a family man no matter how many wives and children he has, this still has a direct impact on his family. This is disrespectful and if this happened to any one in a position of leadership your authority will certainly be undermined. (Even though some of us where not taking him seriously before)

The action sort of has a Sarah Batman feel to it. Exhibiting something to entertain the masses. I understand that Brett Murray wanted to express something that was on most South Africans minds but at the end of the day this is offensive to not only Zuma but the ANC.The ANC does hold majority of the power in the country. With that in mind there are a number of people who live for the ANC and this is where the danger comes in.

This has sparked anger amongst ANC supporters and the ANC supporters have stated that they will kill for Zuma.

I’m sure right now you are thinking that I’m a fence sitter and yes in this case I am because this is a very tricky situation. I sit here having been trained by my art teacher to interpret paintings as well as having been given an analysis of this painting from my university lecturers. I also sit here knowing that discussing a persons private business is seen as rude in many African cultures.

Zuma certainly has contributed to this happening and certainly the “forces “are also trying to give him signs. Respect is earned and unfortunately there is a very small chance that it will be ever earned.

With that said I did buy the city press on Sunday as I felt that forcing the City Press to take the image down certainly was not on. The City Press has a role to provide the public with information. This is not a communist government.

I’d also like to remind the ANC that City Press did not create the artwork.

Therefore City Press should not be bullied to apologize.

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