Mosadi wa Lefatlha (Bald Woman)

Medium: Oil on Canvas

Size: 100 x 155 cm

Year: 2024

Curatorial Note

In Donald Masoga’s striking portrait, "Mosadi wa Lefatlha (Bald Woman)," the canvas is dominated by a subject of immense presence and quiet confidence. Masoga employs a vibrant, non-naturalistic palette to explore a deeper emotional landscape. Hues of brilliant blue, fiery orange, and sunny yellow dance across the woman’s skin, while the thick, impasto application of paint adds a tangible, sculptural quality to the work. Her direct gaze is not confrontational but rather invites a contemplative connection, encouraging the viewer to look beyond surface appearances and engage with the complex inner world she embodies.

The title itself offers a crucial layer of meaning, celebrating identity and cultural pride. In many African cultures, a shaved head is a powerful statement, signifying purity, spirituality, or a rejection of vanity in favor of a more profound sense of self. Masoga’s subject, with her shorn head, challenges conventional notions of beauty, embodying instead a modern vision of strength and self-possession. The work moves beyond simple representation to become a powerful testament to individual identity, cultural heritage, and the rich tapestry of stories that shape who we are.