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18 January 2013

Money rules art scene left to its own devices

Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC)

During the past year, the ANC has asserted itself as a party interested in art. Being a disciplined and hierarchical structure, work has been apportioned by rank.

But Jacob Zuma, having offered himself as Unkulunkulu, the divine Zulu father, has found few artists willing to venerate him. Perhaps it is his lack of a beard.

For his part, Gwede Mantashe, the party’s secretary general, has emerged as its chief art critic. “Rude, cruel, disrespectful and racist” was how he described Brett Murray’s phallic painting of Zuma last May.

Source: Mail & Guardian

Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC)