The Spear(controversial painting) ruined!

[Sir-Ominous]

The notorious picture's reign comes to end at at last.

Johannesburg - A television journalist working on a story about the controversial painting of President Jacob Zuma, tried to stop one of the men who defaced the work on Tuesday.

Iman Rappetti, eNews channel anchor, was in the Goodman Gallery in Rosebank, close to the The Spear when a man took out a pot of paint and marked an X in the genital area of the portrait.

She said she grabbed him, while shouting to gallery staff to come and help her. "It was surreal."

Rappetti described the vandal as a completely "ordinary" looking critic wearing a tweed jacket. Unbeknown to Rappetti another man was standing behind her with a large pot of black paint.

The second man started "going to town on the picture", she said.

"I was screaming."

Gallery staff apprehended both men and the police arrived shortly afterwards and took them away.

Rappetti said the gallery staff had told her the first man had identified himself as an Afrikaans journalist. He had visited the Goodman Gallery before.

"He did not sound Afrikaans to me," she said.

The second man appeared to be working with the first one. The gallery closed after the vandalism, and the public and reporters crowded outside.

Inside the gallery gate were three private and armed security guards wearing bulletproof vests - with one guard carrying a rifle.

[ioiiooio]

Wow these guys ****ed me off big time and I hope they get a massive fine for this. Whether or not the painting is offensive to Zumas dignity is entirely subjective and whether or not the artist has overstepped the line is for the courts to decide. In this case I would say it's tantamount to an act of violence against the artist. Essentially what they are saying is "We don't like your opinion; therefore we will kill it. We do not respect your right to freedom of expression."

[Sir-Ominous]

Check this video to get a view of what happened . Not sure what the guard in the vid is trying to do to one vandalizer, lol.

[Darranged]

I'm putting my tinfoil hat on with this one. Attention grabbing scheme, for another 15 minutes of fame with the painting. I just love how E-News was there, as it happened.

CONSPIRACY!

[Gammaray]

Exactly how does one walk into the exhibition with brushes and paint? o_O
Deep jacket pockets I guess.

[Sir-Ominous]

@Darranged

Good point, how was E-News ''coincidentally'' reporting the exact time the two dudes decided to re-paint the painting?

[Kharrak]

inb4 vandalists are the original artists.

[XERXES]

Couldn't the guard have given the other guy a klap as well? He's smirking like a boss.
Also, I'm completely ignorant about art and its appreciation but I thought famous/infamous paintings would at least have some
kind of protection, I didn't think anyone could just come up to it like that.

[Sir-Ominous]

I was also surprised that two people could just go into an art gallery and damage ''art'' on display so easily. I bet if no had started calling the guards, the two men would have damaged the entire thing and walk out as if nothing had happened without being detected by anyone.

[McDangerous]

This is pathetic to be honest. Never mind the defacing of the painting, the fact that the ANC is taking the artist to court is stupid. So what, the guys that supposedly fought for free speech, equality and freedom of expression don't like it when a view is expressed about them?

[wisp]

So we saw zumas **** , big deal , or is it a small deal :p hes a politician and they r all pricks anyway.

[ioiiooio]

We don’t need to go into the President’s character, his past, race, or even a debate about artistic or moral freedom. It is much simpler. if you believe in freedom, you can’t allow someone else to censor things for the rest of us. If you treasure your freedom you will protect even the right of those who express ideas that offend you. That is what free people do.

Gareth Cliff Blog

[Wesley]

Zuma children: We can't appear in public

Some choice lines that got me cracking up:

President Jacob Zuma’s daughter, Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla says the portrait by Brett Murray of her father with his genitals exposed constitutes hate speech. She also says that she and her younger siblings can no longer "freely mingle with the public without a deep feeling of being ostracised by the demeaning discussions about my father’s private parts".

She says that Zuma's children's constitutional rights are being violated - especially the right enshrined in Section 28(1)(d) which "prohibits the abuse and degradation of children".

"My little brothers and sisters are exposed to abuse by other children in schools and colleges when their father’s sexual organs are publicly displayed and discussed on radio stations and talk shows," she says.

Lolwut? he was shown with his genitals, yes, but they weren't exactly small either. That's not a bad thing. I think.

In addition, Zuma-Sambudla says, this is taboo in her culture and the portrait "displays a disdain for our cultural attitudes towards the public display of sexual organs".

"In fact in our culture, when you wish to insult an opponent, you insult them by referring to the sexual organs of parents," Zuma-Sambudla says.

"Such an insult often leads to violent conflict between the parties involved."

I don't think anyone really understands what's going on in the painting there. Its Zuma in a bold stance with his tools out. He may be a ****, but he's a bold **** at that. I want that painting copied and in my house.

[McDangerous]

...you insult them by referring to the sexual organs of parents.

I didn't know that the Zumas were actually Cape Coloured? They have to be with the reference to the immortal "you masse poes" used by the majority of coloured people I've met.

They should grow the **** up, honestly. I actually thought the old bugger looked rather esteemed and proud in the painting.

[Wesley]

I'm offended that they think they're special in any way when they say; "in our culture you insult an opponent by referring to their parent's genitals."

Everyone does that. Not just you. Maybe once daddy isn't rich you'll crawl out of your bubble and see you're just as human as the rest of us.

And he is old, you're right. And scoring more chicks than us guys do.

[Xperimance]

I don't see why people have to make such a big deal about this painting. Yes, it shows Zuma with his "Umshini Wam" exposed but art is a form of expression. Suing the artist for the painting is basically taking away his freedom of expression.

[Wesley]

Also, video looks fake.

[Toxxyc]

What everyone keeps forgetting: The artist forgot a shower head.

[Xperimance]

What everyone keeps forgetting: The artist forgot a shower head.

Zapiro added it in :)

[Toxxyc]

Zapiro added it in :)

Aahw man, I though I'd be original! :(