Jo'burg Art Fair censorship: Artists back each other up

The redeeming factor of the Jo'burg Art Fair was seeing one artist stand up for another, writes Percy Zvomuya.

As the furore of the censorship of Ayanda Mabulu's artwork by the Jo'burg Art Fair dies down, the only redeeming factor isn't the latter backing down and restoring the work but that of one artist standing up for another.

At a press conference on FridayRoss Douglas, co-director of the art fair, said: "We felt that showing that work, particularly on opening night, might undo a lot of the work that we have done in building relationships with government."

When photographer David Goldblatt heard that the Joburg Art Fair had taken down the painting he threatened to take down his own work, The Frock and other Pictures. The threat by Goldblatt wasn't one to be ignored. For apart from being a universally acclaimed photographer, Goldblatt was the featured artist at this year's fair.

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Jo'burg Art Fair censorship: Artists back each other up