Celeb painter, Rasta, stirs the nation up with portraits
JOBURG – Celebrity painter has come under fire following unflattering portraits of Jay-Z and Beyoncé.
Art is meant to be a subjective medium – one that sees an artist lace artworks with their own meanings while the viewer takes away different meanings in the work. However, to what point do we allow the subjectivity of art be used as a crutch for sub-par and unflattering work? That is the question that has come to light following the outrage directed at celebrity painter, Lebani ‘Rasta’ Sirenje after images of his tribute to Jay-Z and Beyoncé made the rounds on social media.
Rasta usually paints portraits of celebrities after their death, he has painted the likes of Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, ProKid, Akhumzi Jezile, and HHP. The painter’s infamous paintings have continuously received backlash from the public with some calling for him to hang his brush and try something else.
It seems that the portraits of Jay-Z and Beyoncé, who were in the country for the Global Citizen Festival: Mandela 100, were the last straw as the Twitter streets were in a frenzy. Speaking to Daily Sun, the painter said he will never stop painting even though the comments on social media were hurtful and discouraging.
Twitter reacts to Rasta’s portraits:
Guys Rasta is drawing Beyonce & Jay Z
Someone stop him 😭 Please#GlobalCitizenFestivalSA— Tboy Daflame (@tboydaflame) December 2, 2018
We need to open a case, rasta cannot be allowed to terrorize us like this. He usually draws dead people but I see no one is safe now https://t.co/b4cLd9Gaox
— Muchi (@Sipho_Says) December 3, 2018
I defended rasta. But this is not on.
— Sizwe Alakine World (@ReasonHD) December 2, 2018
Rasta doesn't respect us 😭🤣
So this is Beyoncé and Jay-Z???#GlobalCitizenFestivalSA #GlobalCitizen pic.twitter.com/lNdUP1Qhvz
— Hermaine M (@HermaineM) December 3, 2018
Rasta won't rest til legal action is taken against him, phela this is visual slander https://t.co/bbeWlL4kmB
— Thula Sindi (@thulasindi) December 2, 2018
Someone needs to steal Rasta's paints and brushes.We have had enough of this now.Please stop him. pic.twitter.com/1RsUs9EdLH
— P-Tempo (@PTempoSA) December 2, 2018
