Sacrifice

An ink drawing titled, Sacrifice by Leonard Matsoso (b.1949.). The artwork was privately purchased by the University of Pretoria in 1993 from Studio 161. The work depicts a man carrying a zebra or buck (antelope) that is presumed to be an item symbolic of sacrifice. In the top left, there is a bird of prey which shares an eye with the man. The narrative of the artwork is a metaphor on the Christian bible story of Abraham sent up the mountain by God to sacrifice his son Isaac. The man is agonised about the sacrifice and does not notice that God, symbolically portrayed as the eagle, exchanged his son for an antelope/buck.Short Biography: Leonard Tshela Mohapi Matsoso was born in Pimville, Soweto in 1949, South Africa. He worked at the Jubilee Art Centre in 1962, alongside Cecil Skotnes, Bill Hart, Ezrom Legae and Sydney Kumalo. In 1972, he studied at the Bill Ainslie Studios and travelled to France, England and Italy. He then worked for the SABC as a graphic artist. Matsotso works are recognised as work that negates literal commentary, but rather owes its value to its presence. As a graphic artist and painter, Matsotso has produced a wide body of work encompassing both colour and monochromatic artworks. His works are intricate, combined with sculptural figures, yet juxtaposed on a back setting of blank backgrounds. Although drawing was a favoured medium for several black artists of the period, due to its accessibility, Matsoso’s technique set him apart from the artists making work during that time. Matsoso was associated with the Goodman Gallery (where he exhibited between 1970 and 1988) and represented South Africa at the Sao Paulo Biennale in 1973 and 1979. His works have been repeatedly exhibited in Brazil, Greece, Australia and Germany. He was also invited by the Department of National Education in 1981 to submit work for the controversial Valparaiso Biennial in Chile, although the content of his work was subsequently rejected as being politically unsuitable. Matsoso was also commissioned for work by the South African State Theatre.