MOKE

Moke (1950–2001) was originally from Bandundu, east of Kinshasa. In 1960, at just 10 years old, he arrived in Kinshasa. In 1965, he created his first "popular" painting, depicting General Mobutu greeting the crowd at the head of the parade on June 30th Boulevard during the Independence Day celebrations. In 1978, the group exhibition Art Partout at the Kinshasa Academy of Fine Arts, which brought together both "academics" and "self-taught" artists, introduced many so-called "popular artists" to the wider public. From that point on, collective and solo art exhibitions began to multiply.

Moke drew his inspiration from urban life and daily experiences. His exuberant, realist painting style reflects a keen observation of life in Kinshasa. He favored panoramic scenes in which plump, colorful characters joyfully interact. The round, full faces are outlined with bold black lines, without concern for likeness or perspective. The colors he used were industrial, warm, and vivid. His chosen themes are built in the foreground, while the background is often filled with "filler" characters, with details merely suggested.