Keledi Ya Mosadi (The Woman's Tear)

Medium: Oil on Canvas

Size: 100 x 100 cm

Year: 2025

Curatorial Note

In Donald Masoga’s "Keledi Ya Mosadi," the viewer is locked in an intimate and unflinching gaze with the subject. This striking portrait is rendered in the artist's characteristic style, where the human face becomes a dynamic map of emotion, constructed from bold, interlocking patches of color. Masoga eschews naturalism in favor of a palette that speaks to a deeper psychological truth; vibrant blues, warm ochres, and soft purples define the contours of her face, each hue conveying a different facet of her being. The subject’s direct stare is both a confrontation and an invitation, creating a powerful connection that pulls the viewer into her complex inner world.

The title of the work, translating from Sesotho as "The Woman's Tear," provides the crucial key to its profound emotional depth. On the woman’s right cheek, a visceral patch of brilliant red stands out; split by a running streak of orange, representing a tear not of water, but of raw, potent feeling-be it pain, passion, or rage. Yet, her expression is not one of defeat. She does not look away. This powerful juxtaposition of a symbol of sorrow with a look of immense fortitude is the heart of the painting. Masoga masterfully captures a moment not of breaking, but of enduring. It is a testament to the resilience of women, acknowledging profound suffering while simultaneously celebrating an unbreakable spirit.