better poor than a rich puppet
TRANSCRIPT
"NGCONO IHLWEMPU
("Better Poor Than a Rich Puppet
In "Ngconco Ihlwempu Kunesibhanxo
Sesityebi" (Better Poor Than A Rich
Puppet), Ayanda Mabulu shows key
international and national figures acting out
or being acted on around a dining table. We
know them all.Among them, previous
president George W Bush is garotting an
ageing Nelson Mandela, Robert Mugabe is
concentrating on driving a nail into his nose
with a hammer and PW Botha is pointing that
familiar stubby finger. US President Barack
Obama is ironing his tongue, which Mabulu
connects to the idiom of restructuring your
President Jacob Zuma, wearing a part-wolf,
with which he pierces his chest with an
Desmond Tutu.
Mabulu has been questioned by people about this. To paint elders
disrespectful and insulting. He says this is not a personal
figure, but more against the church. He rejects the
for change,” he says.
In the painting, all of the figures are hindered or compromised: Jacob Zuma's penis is supported by a crutch.
According to Mabulu, this is a metaphor for the perception that Zuma's sexual escapades are out of control;
the crutch implying he needs help to overcome the issue.
Mabulu also explained that Bishop Tutu's tied up penis refers to a process during the Xhosa male initiation
ritual where the penis is covered to speed up the removal of the foreskin. Traditionally a sign of strength and
power in his culture, the penis here is p
values – in pain just like during initiation.
Asked whether he intended to offend, Mabulu said that he was merely painting his perception of the roles
that the state and the church play in a p
was probably necessary for them to look at reasons why they felt this way. Asked whether painting a political
and church leader naked was disrespectful, he said these figures are disrespe
can't expect respect if they don't respect the people they lead.
HLWEMPU KUNESIBHANXO SESITYEBI
Better Poor Than a Rich Puppet") by Ayanda Mabulu, 2010
Kunesibhanxo
acting out
a dining table. We
George W Bush is garotting an
Mugabe is
a nail into his nose
and PW Botha is pointing that
Barack
tongue, which Mabulu
the idiom of restructuring your tongue.
wolf, part-sheep headdress, as the angel Gabriel with a prosthetic arm
which he pierces his chest with an arrow. He is shown naked, as is Anglican Archbishop Emeritus
people about this. To paint elders in such a fashion is considered
is is not a personal attack against Tutu, for he respects
against the church. He rejects the criticism as not being relevant to
Cape Times
he figures are hindered or compromised: Jacob Zuma's penis is supported by a crutch.
According to Mabulu, this is a metaphor for the perception that Zuma's sexual escapades are out of control;
the crutch implying he needs help to overcome the issue.
u also explained that Bishop Tutu's tied up penis refers to a process during the Xhosa male initiation
ritual where the penis is covered to speed up the removal of the foreskin. Traditionally a sign of strength and
power in his culture, the penis here is portrayed as weakened, incapacitated and "colonised
in pain just like during initiation.
Asked whether he intended to offend, Mabulu said that he was merely painting his perception of the roles
that the state and the church play in a poverty stricken environment. He added that if it offended anyone, it
was probably necessary for them to look at reasons why they felt this way. Asked whether painting a political
and church leader naked was disrespectful, he said these figures are disrespectful of him and his people: they
can't expect respect if they don't respect the people they lead.
http://worldart.co.za/news/
ESITYEBI"
tongue. He has portrayed
Gabriel with a prosthetic arm
Anglican Archbishop Emeritus
in such a fashion is considered extremely
attack against Tutu, for he respects him as a father
criticism as not being relevant to his generation. “It’s time
Cape Times Monday, November 8, 2010
he figures are hindered or compromised: Jacob Zuma's penis is supported by a crutch.
According to Mabulu, this is a metaphor for the perception that Zuma's sexual escapades are out of control;
u also explained that Bishop Tutu's tied up penis refers to a process during the Xhosa male initiation
ritual where the penis is covered to speed up the removal of the foreskin. Traditionally a sign of strength and
colonised" by Western
Asked whether he intended to offend, Mabulu said that he was merely painting his perception of the roles
overty stricken environment. He added that if it offended anyone, it
was probably necessary for them to look at reasons why they felt this way. Asked whether painting a political
ctful of him and his people: they
http://worldart.co.za/news/