Men’s Day 

Lucia Heffernan’s painting presents four meerkats on a golf course, rendered in a style reminiscent of traditional portraiture. The scene is both humorous and pointed, inviting us to consider the social rituals of leisure. Here, the artist employs a clever visual code: the meerkats stand in for a particular segment of society, perhaps lampooning the exclusivity and gender dynamics often associated with the sport of golf. Golfing culture has historically been linked to specific class and social structures, frequently serving as a space for networking and the reinforcement of social hierarchies. The artist seems to be asking us to reflect on the ways in which such activities define and solidify social identities. To fully appreciate the work, we might delve into research on the history of golf as a social practice, examining its evolution and the cultural meanings attached to it. This enables us to interpret the painting not just as a funny image, but as a commentary on the social structures of our time.