[S]hadows and Mirrors, Thomas Masingi’s latest project exhibition on show at the Pretoria Art Museum (13 September – 18 January 225), brings together a body of work dominated by photography into a conversation that probes the pretentious fit-ins we assume when around people to live up to societal expectations in our performances of our acceptable alter egos.

In the realisation of the works on show, Masingi collaborated with Kgafela Loate on two works, Integration (2025) and The Invisible Opponent (2025). And Neo Mlangeni collaborated with Lesedi Sebogwane on the video installation Mirror, Mirror: What the Mirror Forgot (2025).

In this interview, Thomas Masingi, whose art practice is preoccupied with mental health, takes us through the curatorial process of Shadows and Mirrors and the overarching theme that the exhibition tackles. Unlike in Monna ke Nku, his earlier group exhibition he curated at the Viewing Room Gallery, Brooklyn Circle, where he focused on the psyche of men not opening up about what they are going through psychologically, Shadows and Mirrors is a meditation on the health of the self.

Hindsight

The listener will notice that during the conversation, Lesedi Sebogwane is never mentioned as the conversation around the exhibition develops. His acknowledgment as a contributor to the exhibition, particularly in the creation of the video installation Mirror, Mirror: What the Mirror Forgot (2025) by Mlangeni, surfaced after this podcast episode was recorded. It would have been erroneous and a historical fallacy to further silence his participation in this important exhibition.

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Spring

09 October

© Mmutle Arthur Kgokong, 2025

Reference credits

*Photo credit, Thomas Masingi

**The audio version of this interview, encountered in version .IrieMaysefMix remains the property of Mmutle Arthur Kgokong except where his name appears alongside that of a featured artist/s or guest in the reference citation.

++ A special thanks to Thomas Masingi for availing himself for the interview following the official opening of the exhibition Shadows and Mirrors.

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To reference this audio documentation, please cite:

Intraparadox, interview with Thomas Masingi, Shadows and Mirrors. Pretoria Art Museum. 17 September 2025. Mmutleak.com-Intraparadox.

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