On Show: ‘Modiši wa go botega’ by Setlamorago Mashilo Opens at Constitution Hill

Modiši wa go botega marks a powerful new chapter in the practice of Setlamorago Mashilo, whose work continues to examine land, memory and the fragile architecture of belonging. The art exhibition is presented within a former women’s prison at Constitution Hill. The art exhibition moves beyond the confines of a traditional gallery. Here, the weight of history becomes part of the narrative, allowing space, material and memory to intersect.

The Sepedi title translates to a reliable shepherd or good steward, grounding the exhibition in themes of responsibility, leadership and care. Through bronze sculpture, painting and collage, Setlamorago Mashilo reflects on personal experience and collective histories shaped by dispossession, migration and the erosion of ethical leadership, offering a deeply considered meditation on continuity and loss:

"Modiši wa go botega" by Setlamorago Mashilo art exhibitions at Constiturion Hill in Johannesburg | What's On in Joburg

A sense of place: Setlamorago Mashilo’s manifesto within the historic Women’s Jail

The setting of Constitution Hill is central to the exhibition’s impact. Once a site of confinement, it now stands as a symbol of freedom and constitutional rights, creating a powerful dialogue between the work and its surroundings. For Mashilo, this context allows the exhibition to exist in direct conversation with the layered histories embedded within the space.

“This body of work is about responsibility and what happens in its absence,” explains Setlamorago Mashilo. “I am reflecting on stewardship, on leadership rooted in care, and on the consequences when those figures are lost or silenced within our communities.”

Drawing from his upbringing in rural Limpopo, Mashilo positions the shepherd as both literal and symbolic, representing guidance, protection and accountability. His use of bronze conveys permanence, while painting and collage reflect memory and fragmentation. Together, the works form a grounded yet emotionally charged narrative, inviting viewers to consider how place, leadership and identity continue to shape individual and collective futures.