A rather controversial painting recently went on display at the Goodman Gallery in Johannesburg, South Africa. The painting “The Spear” features the current president of South Africa, Jacob Zuma, with his genitals exposed. Considering South Africa’s history with apartheid and racism, this painting stirred emotions of fear and anger within the entire country at the apparent racism and disrespect behind it.

The artist of this painting, Brett Murray, is a prominent figure in the South African artistic world. Based in Cape Town, he established the sculpture department at the University of Stellenbosch, and he co-founded the Section 27 company known as ‘Public Eye’ which helps to increase the profile for public art in Cape Town.

He often curates shows and has his own solo shows. His works are also housed in a number of prestigious public collections in South Africa and abroad. What, then, could the motive be behind this prominent artist’s ‘inappropriate’ portrayal of the South African president?

Historical intersections of art and politics can testify to the role of some artists as powerful political commentators. The question is to what extent art is and should be free to express itself fully and in any way that it wishes? To what extent can it be accepted as ‘art for art’s sake’?

In the time of Stalin’s rule as Premier of the Soviet Union, there were various restrictions and rules on the nature of art and music created – music that did not follow these ‘rules’ were subsequently banned and/or their authors suffered major professional and personal consequences. It was only after Stalin’s death in 1953 that some Russian composers aired their feelings and opinions of this ruler.

For example, the brutal and savage second movement of Dmitri Shostakovich’s Tenth Symphony has been described as a ‘musical portrait of Stalin himself’. Although such anti-Stalin expressions were banned during Stalin’s rule, they could never be permanently excluded from the Russian arts.

An American equivalent of this controversial painting is the anti-Obama poster used by critics of the Obama administration, a poster also known as the Barack Obama ‘joker’ poster. This poster, which features Obama as ‘The Joker’ from the film ‘The Dark Knight’, has been described as racist, poisonous and mocking – but it has also been described as brilliant and artistic.

A challenge has been issued for the creator(s) of this image to come forward and explain themselves. The image seems to be infamous and to have created a stir, and yet is accepted as a mere form of protest against the current American government.

Could Murray’s supposedly ‘anti-Zuma’ painting then be considered a mere form of political protest against the current political party. Surely one cannot prevent art from being an expression of a culture, a nation and its thoughts: the problems of different eras.

Yes, ‘The Spear’ could be meant as political protest, but South Africa’s historical and current problems with racism makes this particular ‘political protest’ verge on the unacceptable. The president of the National Union of Mineworkers, Senzeni Zokwana, expressed the criticism that this painting is how white people ultimately regard and see black people in South Africa.

The painting might be infamous for its inappropriate depiciton of a prominent figure in South Africa, yet most criticism against ‘The Spear’ is not aimed at its deformation of the president’s character. In fact, most criticism seems to be aimed at the apparent racism implied through the painting.

The issue at stake, then, is not Murray’s motives behind creating this painting, nor is it whether such a depicition of the president should be accepted or even allowed. The issue is that this painting has highlighted the fear and possible remaining presence of racism in South Africa. As long as the issue of racism remains prominent in the country, any form of anti-stance to a political party or prominent figure could be ascribed to racism.

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This coming Sunday is the presidential election in Russia, and Vladimir Putin is sure he is going to win. But who is Vladimir Putin? And why is he so sure to pull a win? Despite allegations of Putin’s political party’s widespread official fraud, the latest surveys show that Putin will have the vote of approximately 60% of voters.

Putin as a Russian politician served as president of Russia from 2000 to 2008 and is currently the Prime Minister of Russia. He also has a background serving in the KGB for sixteen years. Based on a law change, Russia’s running presidential term has been increased from four to six years. The current President, Dmitry Medvedev, has decided not to run for re-election.

There is much controversy and protesting going on against Putin coming back into power as President. Putin has maintained a very strong criticism of the United States yet contradictorily has stated that, “President Barack Obama’s policies of ensuring ties with Russia,” will “successfully negotiate Russia’s access into the World Trade Organization.”

Regardless of the massive protests against Putin, he has clearly stated that he wants to help Russia regain social and economic stability.

However, Putin’s certainty in his unquestioned win is not necessarily a reflection of reality. In Moscow, thousands have been protesting against re-electing Putin. This has been the most populated show of outrage and anger since the Soviet Union collapsed, nearly twenty years ago. Despite the massive protests, he is staying confident that he will pull through and gain his victory and has clearly stated that he wants to help Russia regain social and economic stability.

If elected, Putin will be eligible to serve twelve more years as the President of Russia. Even though he has not been elected as President yet, Putin is already talking about running for re-election in 2018. If he wins both the 2012 and 2018 elections, he would have served almost a quarter of a century, which is longer than any other individual in Russia’s history other than Soviet dictator Josef Stalin.

As Putin gets closer to becoming the Russian President once more, the Syrian government is crumbling. President Obama disclosed a statement that Syrian’s President, Bashar al-Assad’s “days are numbered.” Meanwhile, Obama is working hard to speed up the process of Syria becoming a dictatorship. Russia is currently blocking UN action in helping this happen.

The biggest question in the current political climate revolve around the long-term impact of Russia with a Putin-led government. Both in terms of the American-Russian relations and the repercussions of political complications on Russia’s chances of becoming a part of the WTO.

The Russian Presidential Election will take place this Sunday, March 4. Stay tuned in to see if Putin will be the President of Russia for the newly extended term of six years.

Image Courtesy of   Vasily Smirnov / Shutterstock.com

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