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| This isn't the painting - but I like it better |
We've had another one of those weeks in SA where an
expression of artistic freedom created accusations of racism all round.
In his Book "Racism: A Short History",
George M. Fredrickson tells that the term "racism" first
came into common usage in the 1930s when a new word was required to describe
the theories on which the Nazis based their persecution of the Jews (what a bloody birth).
Of course the actual practice of racism predates that by
thousands of years - with evidence of our base natures inscribed on tablets,
walls, parchment, and described across histories. My country, went a step
further and made racism legal in 1948. The election of Nelson Mandela in
1994 created a new belief in the possibilities of the future. But the fresh broom that swept clean, only swept racism under the carpet. And we keep
tripping up on it.
In it's children's dictionary Merriam-Webster defines racism
as:
1: belief that certain races of people are by birth and
nature superior to others
2: discrimination or hatred based on race
I like this definition: it is short, succinct and very, very
clear. Even a kid could understand it - but not the ANC.
Brett Murray, a respected local artist, painted President
Jacob Zuma as Lenin, with his genitals out. The comment being that our
six-times married president, who has mistresses, and children out of wedlock,
can't keep it in his pants. The use of Soviet propaganda poster
styling, probably to give the painting a bit of political heft ... doesn't work
artistically for me. It looks lazy and half-cocked - but it got ANC all hot and bothered.
They're up in the High Court's face with allegations of
bringing the presidency into disrepute and disrespecting Zuma's privacy. Demanding that the painting be taken off the walls of the
Goodman Gallery. The ANC loves to do this. And usually the Court
listens patiently, passes them a copy of the constitution (drafted by the ANC)
and sends them home with a flea in their ear
I am not even sure it is a picture of only Zuma. To me
it looks like mash-up of his head, Zwelinzima Vavi's face and glasses, and
Lenin's body. The genitals have been cartoonishly added - almost as a
sketchy afterthought.
Vavi is the General Secretary of the Congress of South
African Trade Unions. And, if our current conspiracy theorists are to be
believed - the man who would be king. He is very powerful, very ambitious and
very vocal. He took to twitter immediately the furore broke: “That painting can
only be a work of a very sick mind full of hatred reflective of the damage our
apartheid past caused to our society.”
An accusation of racism in under 140 characters.
ANC spokesperson, Jackson Mthembu, spoke for the party: the
painting was disgusting, a vulgarity and an insult to the President’s dignity.
“In South African culture, it is considered uncultural (sic) to depict an
elder with their genitals exposed,”
South African Culture - what the hell does that mean? Dude -
in any culture being caught with your goolies out if you are a public figure is
awkward. Just ask Bill Clinton. Or Silvio Berlusconi.
Murray has kept pretty schtum on the whole affair - but he
spoke to Die Burger (excellent Afrikaans newspaper) a while ago about the
piece “when you break the rules that you pretend to honour, and on
top of that you’re a public leader like Zuma, then the hunt is on for political
commentators”.
Does that sound racist to you Pres. Zuma? I don’t think
so, it sounds like the man was doing his job.
The ANC took the whole thing very, very personally.
Their great leader had been insulted and so they ran to Daddy
- the High Court. Gwede Mantashe (ANC Secretary General) puffed himself up outside and quoth: "Quite clearly the battle lines have been drawn. This is not a battle
about the painting; it's about domination and subjugation. Our culture is not
inferior ... we have to fight to protect our African-ness."
What the fuck Gwede?
Battle lines? Are you serious? It's a piece of art. One man's
work: not an armed revolution. Your
constant reach for racism to explain unfavourable comment shows that it is
alive and furious in your breast. Not mine.
When you squander this countries money and don't deliver on
your promises I don't call you a racist - I call you a corrupt, inept leader.
When you lie - I call you a liar. When you steal - I call you a thief.
When you rape, I call you a rapist. These are not racial epithets -
they are descriptions of your behaviour.
Yet, regardless of what I say – you call me a racist. You
are keeping this alive. Not me. This
is on you.
Mr. President – you have got
to learn to take criticism. All your girlie squealing has resulted in us
being forced to focus on your genitals for far longer than either we, or you,
would ever have wished. Think on what Tselane Thambo (you remember her daddy Oliver?) said about you: "He should inspire the reverence he craves. This portrait is what he inspired. Shame neh!" Shame indeed.
But the whole situation hasn't been entirely a bust. A
couple of guys, one black, and one white travelled to the Goodman to express
their opinions by defacing the painting. The one from Limpopo, in his taxi; to
avenge his leader’s honour. The other from Joburg’s suburbs in his old Merc: because he loves art. They met in front of "The Spear" and threw paint at it. This intersection tickles me - because these
two characters would never otherwise have met. Now they’re sharing a cell. That’s a definition of South Africa for you Merriam-Webster, right there.
I also like that this painting got noisy debate going. We
South Africans enjoy a good ding about a dong. And I honestly believe that a rowdy,
profane, emotional public dust-up keeps things healthy and moving.
Rather like a enema: regardless of how it discomforts at the
time, we all feel so much the better for it afterwards.
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