‘Zapoleon’ artwork hits out at Zuma
IN a painting titled #ZapoleonCan’tFall‚ a South African artist has compared President Jacob Zuma with the megalomaniac Napoleon Bonaparte.
The artwork is a recreation of the renowned 1801 painting Napoleon Crossing the Alps, showing the French military leader seated on his rearing horse‚ his hand up in celebration of victory.
Following the futile #ZumaMustFall marches against Zuma earlier this year‚ artist Pascale Chandler created the painting in which he compared Zuma’s “unbeatable” nature with Napoleon.
Unlike the French leader though‚ Zuma is not in a red cape and sophisticated garb – instead he is shown in his traditional Zulu leopard gear‚ spear in hand.
“Zapoleon is wearing Nike sneakers – [representing] conspicuous consumption and the funky hip hop American influence on indigenous cultures‚” Chandler said.
The figure bears the ANC logo, representing graffiti‚ propaganda and sloganeering.
The polka dots evoke the party’s carnival-like approach to government.
“The barbed wire tangled between the hoofs of the horse references the security upgrade at Nkandla‚” Chandler said.
“The horse becomes a metaphor for power and the rider for abuse [of it].
“Power has [been] kidnapped in South Africa and the political issues of state capture‚ corruption and nepotism echo the notion of Napoleon as a revolutionary with megalomaniac tendencies.”
Chandler said: “History is written by the winners and this work satirises the vitriolic claims of our country’s leadership against a backdrop of a flawed democratic idealism that has little to celebrate.”
The painting is on exhibition at The Gallery in Riebeek-Kasteel‚ Western Cape. –TimesLIVE