“I’ve received a few death threats from some ‘big men’ who are hiding in that black, green and gold institution,” he said yesterday. “I couldn’t give a f*** about them.”
The death threats were sparked by his latest painting, titled The Economy of Rape, which depicts President Jacob Zuma performing a sexual act on former president Nelson Mandela.
The ANC has lashed out at Mabulu, labelling the artwork as “grotesque, inflammatory and of bad taste”, and numerous other South Africans have taken to social media, slamming the painting as crude and offensive.
But Mabulu insists he was merely expressing his views.
His painting is interpreted as Zuma “raping” Mandela’s legacy. “I didn’t create the painting so people can agree with me,” said Mabulu.
“The painting is about the continuous bulls**t, ill treatment and disrespect that continue to happen to the people of this country.”
Mabulu defended his portrayal of Mandela. “Who the f***is he? Is he special or some form of a demigod or something?
“And besides, Mandela was the type of person who would have been open to criticism.
“In the painting, Mandela is a victim and is being raped. This mother-f****** president of ours right now is an oppressor so can we focus on him.
“This issue needs to be addressed otherwise why do we create any art at all?”