Art critical of president defaced
Source: Agencies |
May 23, 2012, Wednesday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
TWO men wielding cans of red and black paint defaced a painting that draws attention to the South African president's genitals and his reputation for promiscuity, as a judge yesterday called for an unusual full-bench hearing of the president's court challenge of the gallery's right to display the work.
"Now it's completely and utterly destroyed," said Iman Rappetti, a reporter for a South African TV channel who was in the Goodman Gallery when the men struck.
Her channel showed footage of a man in a suit painting a red X over the president's genital area and then his face. Next a man in a hoodie used his hands to rub black paint over the president's face and down the painting. Rapetti said the men were detained by gallery staff and police arrived later to take them away.
The painting by Brett Murray titled "The Spear" has been on display since early this month, but made the news only last week when it came to the attention of South Africa's governing African National Congress party.
The painting is part of a large exhibition of Murray's sculptures and paintings that is titled "Hail to the Thief II." The ANC has called the show an "abuse of freedom of artistic expression."
"Now it's completely and utterly destroyed," said Iman Rappetti, a reporter for a South African TV channel who was in the Goodman Gallery when the men struck.
Her channel showed footage of a man in a suit painting a red X over the president's genital area and then his face. Next a man in a hoodie used his hands to rub black paint over the president's face and down the painting. Rapetti said the men were detained by gallery staff and police arrived later to take them away.
The painting by Brett Murray titled "The Spear" has been on display since early this month, but made the news only last week when it came to the attention of South Africa's governing African National Congress party.
The painting is part of a large exhibition of Murray's sculptures and paintings that is titled "Hail to the Thief II." The ANC has called the show an "abuse of freedom of artistic expression."
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