Trek 1975

George Pemba’s painting, Trek, captures a family on the move, rendered with a mix of earthy and vibrant tones. The painting shows a family using various methods to transport what appear to be their belongings, but notice how the arrangement isn't a neat, logical one. Pemba's composition and color palette work to destabilize any easy reading. For example, see how the man carrying the table is bent under its weight and yet he is walking into the picture, defying gravity, towards a destination unknown. The formal structure here suggests an underlying semiotic system, where objects and people signify more than their physical presence. What at first seems like a straightforward depiction of labour reveals layers of cultural encoding. Ultimately, the painting compels us to question fixed meanings, highlighting art's capacity to engage with new modes of thinking about space, power, and representation. The overall structure challenges our expectations, creating an open space for continued interpretation.