Two new sculptures of Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe were unveiled at the weekend at state house in the capital. It is worth noting that Robert Mugabe has been in power since 1980
Mr Mugabe is quoted as saying:
This is wonderful art and the artists naturally are gifted people, absolutely gifted people.”
But not everyone seems enamoured with the stone sculpture by Dominic Benhura:
Who APPROVED it Cde?https://twitter.com/Mathuthu/status/774658147554299904 …
@ProfJNMoyo @Mathuthu Dr Grace is even laughing at this.Clearly the stone is telling story of a power hungry Mugabe.pic.twitter.com/MMq2e932SB
Some Zimbabweans are describing it as “Superman in the style of The Simpsons”, the Daily Telegraph is reporting.
But Zimbabwe’s science minister and prolific tweeter Jonathan Moyo has come to its defence:
Zim spculptors have artistic freedom. Art’s beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Benhura is a respected sculptor!twitter.com/Mathuthu/statu…
The sculptor behind a new statue of Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe has defended his work after criticism on social media, the state-owned Herald newspaper reports.
The president unveiled it at the weekend at state house in Zimbabwe.
Sculptor Dominic Benhura told the Herald that the point of his work is not to present an exact likeness:
I think most people do not understand my art and they do not understand the difference in art styles… I do not do exact figures. Some artists do exact figures, but I do something that makes my work different.”
He added that there is no way that he would do a poor job:
Honestly, no one would abuse such an opportunity. I wanted the president to see what I do and if I had changed my style it would not be sincere.”