Self-portrait 1987

Here is George Pemba's self-portrait, made with oil on canvas. The warm hues of orange and yellow contrast with the cool blues and greens, pulling me right in. Imagine Pemba standing before his easel, squinting through his glasses, palette in hand. There's a certain seriousness in his gaze. I wonder, was he thinking about the weight of representation, the responsibility of portraying himself and, in a way, his community? Look how the paint is applied—thick in some areas, like the highlights on his white coat, and thin in others, creating a beautiful variation in texture. It is as if he is trying to capture not just his likeness, but also the feeling of being an artist, the act of seeing and interpreting the world around him. Thinking of other artists who explored identity through self-portraiture, like Frida Kahlo, I feel a sense of connection across time and place. Painting is like this ongoing conversation, an exchange of ideas and experiences, inspiring new ways of seeing and being seen.