Ayanda Mabulu

Ayanda Mabulu
Born 1981
King William's Town, South Africa
Nationality South African
Education Nompendulo High, Good Hope Art
Website
http://www.greatmoreart.org/ayanda-mabulu.html

Ayanda Mabulu (born in 1981) is a South African artist mostly known for his paintings.

Ngcono ihlwempu kunesibhanxo sesityebi

Mabulu's work of 2010, Ngcono ihlwempu kunesibhanxo sesityebi (Zulu translation: Better poor than a rich puppet), depicted various international political figures in the nude, including South African president Jacob Zuma. The painting received little critical comment at the time, but was rediscovered as part of the political controversy surrounding fellow South African Brett Murray's painting (The Spear) in May 2012.[1]

Mabulu criticised Zuma and the ANC for their response to Murray's satirical painting - and that of the Nazareth Baptist (Shembe) Church, who called for Murray to be "stoned to death".[2] He questioned their motives in attacking it, having ignored Mabulu's own work - which depicts Zuma alongside Desmond Tutu, Robert Mugabe, Barack Obama and Nelson Mandela in similar fashion.[3] The debate provoked a response from the Worldart Gallery,[4] where Mabulu's other paintings have been exhibited.[5]

References

  1. ↑ Cape artist despairs for ‘illiterate’ ANC
  2. ↑ Church digs in its heels
  3. ↑ Cape Town artist praises Zuma painter
  4. ↑ Ayanda Mabulu's painting discussed at Worldart.co.za
  5. ↑ Ayanda Mabulu at Worldart.co.za