Two men were apprehended in a South African gallery after both engaged in vandalizing one of the pieces, a Lenin-inspired image of the South African President Jacob Zuma. The Gallery and supporters cried that the men were vandals, while supporters of the President derided the piece as racist and crude.
The piece depicts the president in a Lenin-like stance, and is similarly to past posters of the communist leader. The painting also has the penis of the president hanging out of the trousers, the focal point for the vandalism.
A chairman for the Freedom of Expression Institute of South Africa was quoted as saying the complaints were "silly" and that she supported the rights of artist to propose difficult and uncomfortable questions in their work. The men were set to be in court Wednesday. Take a look.
http://worldnews.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/05/23/11824995-painting-over-a-presidential-penis-sign-of-respect-for-south-africas-zuma-or-vandalism?lite
I don't think there's much of a discussion here. Obviously not agreeing with politics is not an excuse for vandalism...and in fact, its kind of the definition of free speech. I also think it's really stupid how some "activists" work. This piece of art would have gone unnoticed by billions and now, it's an international story, bringing more attention to the 'disrespectful image' than there ever would have been. Through their misguided attempt at protest, they actually helped spread the opposite message. and to another point...at least from the pic above, the piece might even be better now...
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