Congolese Artist and Choreographer Dorine Mokha Dies at 32
Dorine Mokha, a talented artist and choreographer from the Democratic Republic of Congo, has passed away. He was becoming a prominent figure in the country's artistic landscape. Mokha worked alongside artist Sammy Baloji on various initiatives and showcased his art at the 2020 Lubumbashi Biennial. He co-directed the ART’gument Project in the capital and was part of the On-Trade-Off collective. In the previous year, he contributed to the Berlin Biennale, creating a piece focused on challenges faced by the local LGBT community through an online commission from Thyssen-Bornemisza Art Contemporary in Vienna. His work for the African biennial Lubumbashi 2050 imagined a future where Europe exploited the continent's lost collective memory. From 2013 to 2019, he crafted an autobiographical dance trilogy, Entre Deux, that examined his identity and sexuality while addressing Congolese political issues, including homophobia. In Berlin, he displayed a video installation based on this series. In 2020, Mokha was honored as a laureate of the Young African Leaders Initiative Network, established by Barack Obama, for his efforts in fighting homophobia and advocating for human rights in relation to Congo's mining sector.
Key facts
- Dorine Mokha was a Congolese artist and choreographer.
- He died at age 32 (born 1989, died 2021).
- Mokha collaborated with artist Sammy Baloji on numerous projects.
- He presented work at the 2020 Lubumbashi Biennial.
- Mokha was co-director of the ART’gument Project in the capital.
- He was a member of the On-Trade-Off collective.
- Mokha participated in the Berlin Biennale in 2020.
- He created a work for Thyssen-Bornemisza Art Contemporary addressing LGBT community issues.
- His piece for Lubumbashi 2050 imagined a future of lost collective memory and European recolonization.
- From 2013 to 2019, he worked on an autobiographical dance trilogy Entre Deux exploring identity and sexuality.
- The trilogy addressed Congolese political and social problems including homophobia.
- In Berlin, he showed a video installation based on the Entre Deux performance series.
- In 2020, he was appointed a laureate of the Young African Leaders Initiative Network.
- The network was founded by Barack Obama.
- He was recognized for work tackling homophobia and human rights issues in Congo's mining industry.
Entities
Artists
- Dorine Mokha
- Sammy Baloji
Institutions
- ART’gument Project
- On-Trade-Off collective
- Berlin Biennale
- Thyssen-Bornemisza Art Contemporary
- Lubumbashi Biennial
- Young African Leaders Initiative Network
Locations
- Congo
- Lubumbashi
- Berlin
- Germany
- Vienna
- Austria