Minister slams 'porn' exhibition

EXCLUSIVE: The opening of an exhibition by young, black women artists at Constitution Hill turned sour when Arts and Culture Minister Lulu Xingwana stormed out of the exhibition, calling the work "immoral".

Xingwana, whose department gave R300,000 to the Innovative Women exhibition, which was launched in Johannesburg to coincide with Women's Day last August, left before she was due to speak at the opening.

The Times understands that after she saw a series of photographs by prominent artist and lesbian activist Zanele Muholi, of naked, black women embracing each other, Xingwana slammed the work as "pornographic", spoke to her aides, and left in a huff. Her personal assistant read out her speech.

Xingwana confirmed that she had "indeed" left the event without addressing the gathering.

In a statement read by her spokeswoman Lisa Combrinck, Xingwana said: "Our mandate is to promote social cohesion and nation building. I left the exhibition because it expressed the very opposite of this.

"It was immoral, offensive and going against nation-building."

Combrinck said: "Minister Xingwana was also concerned that there were children present at the event and that children should not be exposed to some of the images on exhibit."

The Times understands that the day after the opening, Xingwana complained to staff at Constitution Hill about the "pornographic" content of the art on display.

Insiders, who spoke to The Times on condition of anonymity, said Xingwana did not like the images of women posing as couples.

However, Xingwana denied that any such complaints were relayed to Constitution Hill.

The Innovative Women exhibition featured work by 10 artists including Muholi, photographer Nandipha Mntambo, and painter Bongi Bengu, who also curated the exhibition.

The exhibition was also shown in Durban and Cape Town.

While viewing the artwork, Xingwana appeared most upset by the work of Muholi and Mntambo, which deals with intimacy between women.

Speaking to The Times from the US where she is exhibiting and lecturing, Muholi said she was "very disturbed" by Xingwana's views.

"There is nothing pornographic. We live in a space where rape is a common thing, so there is nothing we can hide from our children.

"Those pictures are based on experience and issues. Where else can we express ourselves if not in our democratic country?"

"Children need to know about these things. A lot of people who have no understanding of sexual orientation, people are suffering in silence," Muholi said.

"We need to educate people about homosexuality. We need to have very good treatment and respect from the minister."

The Times has learned that after the exhibition opening, Xingwana demanded to know why it was not censored and why her department had contributed R300,000 to it.

Although Xingwana denies this, three insiders told The Times that after the department's lawyers found nothing pornographic about the art, she then called in lawyers from a Pretoria law firm to "inspect" the work. Insiders said they were flown to Cape Town for the opening of the exhibition there to decide whether the art was "suitable as art or not".

The exhibiting artists told The Times many artists feel there is no place for them in South Africa.

One said: "It is worrisome to artists that everything we do is going to be censored.

"There is no room for us in South Africa, so we are having to relocate overseas, where our work is recognised and appreciated because sadly it is not in South Africa."

Mntambo, who did not attend the exhibition opening, said she found Xingwana's views "irritating and sad".

"I was quite surprised by what happened. I actually found out just after I had done a presentation on censorship," she said.

Mntambo said she received funding from international sponsors or from private individuals.

"I don't even apply for funding from the department. I like being able to do what I want to do, it's really important," she said.

In the exhibition's catalogue, Muholi's artwork has been described as being "without precedent in South Africa, where there are very few instances of black women openly portraying female same-sex practices."