May 23, 2012 | Arts / Entertainment

Presidential privates and Prime Minister parts

South Africa's ruling African National Congress is crying foul over a portrait of President Jacob Zuma. The party is demanding Johannesburg's Goodman Gallery remove a painting of Zuma entitled "The Spear," depicting the president with his genitals exposed.

The image was created as part of a collection called Hail to the Thief, which accuses the ANC of widespread corruption and greed.

"It's making a mockery of the highest office," ANC spokesman Jackson Mthembu told Reuters.

Zuma, himself, said he was "shocked, personally offended and violated." He asked the courts to force the gallery to take the image down.

"We are not going to remove the images for the sake of defending the artist's right to freedom of expression and for the sake of upholding the gallery's reputation," said Lara Koseff who works at the gallery.

The image was ruined on Monday, however, when protesters covered the piece in paint.

In North America, a much smaller controversy has erupted around another politician's portrait. This one is of Canada's Prime Minister Stephen Harper, displayed in the buff, lounging. His equipment is less impressive than Zuma's (which may explain some of the fuss).

"On the [Margaret] Sutherland painting: we're not impressed. Everyone knows the PM is a cat person," tweeted Harper spokesman Andrew MacDougall.

"This is one case where I think we really do need a Conservative cover-up," said Liberal MP Scott Brison. "I guess you could say in this painting it's quite obvious that the Prime Minister has very little to hide."

Snap!

Presidential penis portrait riles S.Africa's ANC [Reuters]

Protesters deface controversial portrait depicting South Africa's president Jacob Zuma [Mail Online]

‘Nude’ Stephen Harper painting causes a stir [The Globe and Mail]