Index on Censorship » art censorship

South Africa: “The Spear” gets age restriction

Alice Purkiss — Fri, 01 Jun 2012 10:53:07 +0000

Controversial painting of South African President Jacob Zuma has been given an age restriction. The piece entitled “The Spear” which displays the president with his genitals exposed, has been given a 16N rating by The Film and Publication Board, meaning children under the age of 16 cannot view the work because it contains nudity. Anyone who wishes to reproduce the image will also be subject to the restriction. Earlier this week, City Press were forced to remove an image of the painting from their website. Zuma has taken legal action to have the painting removed from the Goodman Gallery in Johannesburg.

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South Africa: Jacob Zuma painting vandalised in gallery

Alice Purkiss — Mon, 28 May 2012 14:26:12 +0000

A controversial painting depicting South African president Jacob Zuma exposing his genitals has been vandalised at the Goodman Gallery in Johannesburg. The image, which has prompted Zuma to take legal action to have it removed from the gallery, has been covered in black and red paint. The painting — entitled The Spear — by provocative artist Brett Murray, has already been sold for $14,000 (£9,000). The vandals claimed the the painting is “disrespectful to President Zuma”.

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South Africa: Jacob Zuma goes to court over painting depicting his genitals

Alice Purkiss — Tue, 22 May 2012 09:26:31 +0000

South Africa’s president is taking legal action after the showing of a painting displaying his genitals. Jacob Zuma is arguing that the painting of him by artist Brett Murray should be removed because it violates his right to dignity and makes a mockery of his office. The piece, entitled The Spear, is currently displayed in the Goodman Gallery in Johannesburg. Zuma claims that the piece portrays him as “a philanderer, a womaniser and one with no respect”. The African National Congress (ANC) has said the piece presents a crude stereotype of African male sexuality.

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Iran: MP withdraws complaint against cartoonist after outcry

Alice Purkiss — Tue, 15 May 2012 11:38:56 +0000

A sentence handed to an Iranian cartoonist may be quashed after the MP who brought the case withdrew his complaint. Mahmoud Shokraye faced 25 lashes after local conservative MP Ahmad Lotfi Ashtiani took offence at a caricature the artist had drawn. Shokraye was found guilty of insulting Ashtiani at a media law court in Arak last week. The sentence caused outcry internationally and within Iran, forcing the MP to withdraw his complaint.

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Iran: Cartoonist sentenced to 25 lashes for drawing politician

Alice Purkiss — Thu, 10 May 2012 14:25:20 +0000

An Iranian cartoonist has been sentenced to 25 lashes after drawing a caricature of a MP. Cartoonist Mahmoud Shokraye depicted local conservative MP Ahmad Lotfi Ashtiani dressed as a footballer. Iranian politicians were recently criticised for interfering in sports in the country. The politician took offence at the cartoon and sued the artist for insulting him, resulting in a Markazi province court sentencing Shokraye to lashing. Many have taken to social media to express their outrage at the sentence.

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India: University professor arrested over anti-Mamata cartoons

Alice Purkiss — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 09:41:06 +0000

A university protester has been arrested for allegedly spreading derogatory cartoons against “respectable persons” in India. Ambikesh Mahapatra, a chemistry professor at Jadavpur University in Bengal, was arrested on Friday (13 April) for forwarding the cartoons of Bengal’s Chief Minister, Mamata Banerjee to a number of recipients, and mocking local government policies. The professor has been charged with cyber crime offences.

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China: Ai Weiwei ordered to switch off studio webcams

Alice Purkiss — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 15:02:39 +0000

Authorities have objected to surveillance cameras Chinese artitst Ai Wei Wei installed into his home to provide a live feed online. The artist created a website with four cameras showing his studio, over his bed, his desk and in the courtyard of his house as a “gift” to the authorities who have been watching him for years. Wei Wei set up the site weiweicam.com on 3 April the first anniversary of his 2011 disappearance, but was forced to terminate the feed today. He said the livefeed enabled him to reassure police who were worried what he might do.

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UAE: Authorities censor two Arab Spring-inspired art pieces at gallery

Alice Purkiss — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 15:06:51 +0000

Authorities in the United Arab Emirates have removed two paintings inspired by the Arab spring from an art fair. The paintings, which were appearing as part of the regional art fair “Art Dubai”, unsettled the authorities and were ommitted. A painting titled After Washing by a Libyan-born artist — showing a woman holding underwear with word “Leave” written on it — was removed. Similarly, ”You were my only love” by a Moroccan artist, which depicted an incident in Egypt in which a female protester was beaten up and stripped by members of the security forces, was also banned from the fair.

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