Conversation about politics
Dan Hangoma, 2016
87х54, acrylic on canvas
Lusaka, Zambia
87х54, acrylic on canvas
Lusaka, Zambia
How does the traveller see it?
(Fragment of a post from a Facebook page)
I simply had to buy this painting. There’s a post on my Facebook page about “democracy” with portraits of African presidents on women’s skirts; that’s how they buy votes. And then I see this painting!
The Zambian artist called this work of his “Conversation about politics”. On one of the women’s dresses we can make out the face of Zambia’s sixth president––but why do we only see part of it? When I was at a gallery in Lusaka boasting about this purchase I’d made, the gallery head surmised that no one would buy a painting with the president’s face on it; but part of his face that’s fine, it’s like an allegory.
All of Zambia is adorned with presidents on banners (including the seventh, and current, president), their slogans and campaign promises: “We will stop corruption” etc. I thought to myself: that’s some impressive continuity, it’s unifying.
But it’s not that simple! After visiting Embassy Park (across from the Zambian Ministry of Defence), I learned that every Zambian president was dead (except for the seventh, naturally) and that their bodies lie in burial tombs in that park. Though the sixth president lies in South Africa; the family doesn’t want the body to be sent home.
But the fact that women in Zambia are talking about politics––that’s a good thing, right?
The Zambian artist called this work of his “Conversation about politics”. On one of the women’s dresses we can make out the face of Zambia’s sixth president––but why do we only see part of it? When I was at a gallery in Lusaka boasting about this purchase I’d made, the gallery head surmised that no one would buy a painting with the president’s face on it; but part of his face that’s fine, it’s like an allegory.
All of Zambia is adorned with presidents on banners (including the seventh, and current, president), their slogans and campaign promises: “We will stop corruption” etc. I thought to myself: that’s some impressive continuity, it’s unifying.
But it’s not that simple! After visiting Embassy Park (across from the Zambian Ministry of Defence), I learned that every Zambian president was dead (except for the seventh, naturally) and that their bodies lie in burial tombs in that park. Though the sixth president lies in South Africa; the family doesn’t want the body to be sent home.
But the fact that women in Zambia are talking about politics––that’s a good thing, right?
And what do you think?