John Koenakeefe Mohl, SA artist is born

On 29 September 1903, John Koenakeefe Mohl, South African artist and founding member of Artists Under The Sun, was born at Dinokana village in Lehurutshe, Western Transvaal (now North West Province). A break in Mohl’s career came when he was attending school in Mafikeng, where his talent was recognized by Rev. Hale of the London Missionary Society, on his visit to the school. With the help of Mohl’s grandfather, Hale arranged for Mohl to attend Tiger Kloof Training College where he obtained a Teachers’ Diploma. Mohl became a well-known artist after receiving training at the Kunst-Akademie, West Germany. On his return to South Africa he opened a school in Sophiatown and became one of the first significant art teachers in the country. As a teacher, he encouraged Mizraim Maseko to take painting more 'seriously' and also boosted his confidence by exposing him to more painting techniques. In 1963, the duo exhibited jointly at the Apollo Gallery in Johannesburg.Mohl died in Soweto, Johannesburg in 1985.