Strangers in my bed - SOLD
Richard Mudariki (b 1985)
Strangers in my bed - 2012
Acrylic on canvas
100 x 100 cm
Signed and dated bottom right
Sold - 2014
The setting of this painting is inspired by Vincent van Gogh’s 1888 painting ‘The Bedroom’, in which he shared his very private and intimate space publicly. The dominating bulldog figure is a reference to President Jacob Zuma standing alert outside his bedroom, defensively guarding against those who investigate and criticize him. As a Polygamist, Zuma has been widely criticized for his private life, reportedly fathering more than 20 children with various women. The figure in the painting is confident and intimidating, despite the fact that everything in his domain (symbolic of his private life and government) is not in order.
The painting’s second reference is that of the controversial work, ‘The Spear’, by Brett Murray. Murray’s painting was inspired by the Victor Ivanov poster ‘Lenin Lived, Lenin is Alive, Lenin Will Live’. Murray’s rendition used President Zuma’s image in a similar pose with his genitals exposed – a critical take on the conduct of the President, and South Africa’s ruling party.
Despite the guarding bulldog figure’s vigilance, strangers are sharing the bed he has made, and he has to sleep with them. These are people who have supported his rise to office and now demand favours – they have been given positions in his government, but their thievery and lies are corrupting it, and the country at large. The big, scary wolf in his bed represents the murderers and abusers; the pig represents the greedy, powerful government officials (police and army commanders, public office bearers, etc.) who abuse their positions for personal and political gain; the impostor, whose nose extends outwards like Pinocchio’s, misguides and lies to the people again and again; and the baboon represents the thief that steals the resources meant to benefit the citizenry.