better poor than a rich puppet

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"N GCONO I HL ("Better Po In "Ngconco Ihlwempu Kunesibhanxo Sesityebi" (Better Poor Than A Rich Puppet), Ayanda Mabulu shows key international and national figures actin or being acted on around a dining table know them all.Among them, previous president George W Bush is garotting a ageing Nelson Mandela, Robert Mugab concentrating on driving a nail into his with a hammer and PW Botha is pointi familiar stubby finger. US President Ba Obama is ironing his tongue, which Ma connects to the idiom of restructuring President Jacob Zuma, wearing a part-w with which he pierces his chest with an Desmond Tutu. Mabulu has been questioned by peopl disrespectful and insulting. He says this figure, but more against the church. He for change,” he says. In the painting, all of the figures are hi According to Mabulu, this is a metapho the crutch implying he needs help to o Mabulu also explained that Bishop Tut ritual where the penis is covered to spe power in his culture, the penis here is p values – in pain just like during initiatio Asked whether he intended to offend, that the state and the church play in a was probably necessary for them to loo and church leader naked was disrespec can't expect respect if they don't respe LWEMPU K UNESIBHANXO S ESITY oor Than a Rich Puppet") by Ayanda Mabulu, 2010 ng out e. We an be is nose ing that arack abulu your tong wolf, part-sheep headdress, as the angel Gab n arrow. He is shown naked, as is Anglican Ar le about this. To paint elders in such a fashion s is not a personal attack against Tutu, for he e rejects the criticism as not being relevant to Cape Times indered or compromised: Jacob Zuma's penis or for the perception that Zuma's sexual esca overcome the issue. tu's tied up penis refers to a process during th eed up the removal of the foreskin. Tradition portrayed as weakened, incapacitated and "c on. Mabulu said that he was merely painting his poverty stricken environment. He added tha ok at reasons why they felt this way. Asked w ctful, he said these figures are disrespectful o ect the people they lead. h YEBI " gue. He has portrayed briel with a prosthetic arm rchbishop Emeritus n is considered extremely e respects him as a father o his generation. “It’s time Monday, November 8, 2010 s is supported by a crutch. apades are out of control; he Xhosa male initiation nally a sign of strength and colonised" by Western s perception of the roles at if it offended anyone, it whether painting a political of him and his people: they http://worldart.co.za/news/

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Page 1: Better Poor Than a Rich Puppet

"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/

Page 2: Better Poor Than a Rich Puppet