Granny and Chickens

A figure in blue and orange stands among a group of purple-feathered chickens in a sandy yard, with rendered buildings visible in the background. The composition is frontal and celebratory, with the chickens arranged in an almost choreographed formation around the central figure. Mathobela employs watercolour with a direct, assured hand, establishing form through bold colour fields and minimal linear detail. The palette of warm earths, vivid purples, and bright blues creates an unselfconscious clarity. Executed in 2009, this work demonstrates the artist’s engagement with rural subject matter.