Mpoe Mogale

Erased, Not Forgotten by Mpoe Mogale

“Walking through the It’s About Time exhibition by Dr. Seika Boye at the Mitchell Art Gallery, I was pulled by the names, stories, and even the existence of the dancers. I had never heard of any of these people. I felt embarrassed and angry about that. While I always knew that our generation is certainly not the first Black artists in Canada, the absence of a roadmap and heavy lifting required often makes it feel that this is the case. I had to repeatedly remind myself that this is by design. Erasure is an intentional action. The state that we live within relies heavily on this practice to maintain its image—cloaking past and present injustices with concepts such as multiculturalism and colorblindness that deny the ugly realities of Canada’s interaction with Blackness.

The movement reflected (heard through the sounds and displayed in the video) is based on the photos and stories of the dancers featured in the exhibition. This is to pay homage to these dancers who paved the way for us and whose legacy we are in the constant presence of. While reflecting on what that means for Black dancers today, I was saddened by the reality that we will meet the fate of those before us. But perhaps this is not an entirely sad destiny. To leave a legacy as great as these individuals and to be uncovered beside them by future generations is a possibility I would be honored by. Sure, we might be erased by stronger forces beyond our current control; however, to those who matter, we will not be forgotten.”

— Mpoe Mogale

Conversations with Mpoe Mogale and Cheryl Thompson

It’s About Time curator, Seika Boye, in conversation with local artist and dancer Mpoe Mogale, and scholar, assistant professor Cheryl Thompson discussing Blackness, Beauty Standards and Performance. This conversation took place November 3, 2020.