“Finally, there is probably an element of enchantment in his art…”
«Beware, UFOs !»
« With movements you can hypnotise people, you can change the perception of time, and it is perhaps the nature of dance and art to create temporal accelerations and suspensions »
“Manu, I often say that he is a biochemist who has turned out well. He’s had a pretty amazing career, I like his biochemist’s view of art”
Manu Di Martino is a choreographer and multimedia visual artist. Originally from Liège, he trained in biochemistry (ULiège, 1996-1999) where he practiced research in genetic engineering for 5 years (ULiège). In his youth, he was introduced to movement, first through skateboarding and then through the practice of martial arts. It was at the late age of 24 that he discovered dance and more specifically urban dance. Two paths were open to him: science and dance. At the age of 30, he chose to devote himself fully to the art of movement.
Curious, bulimic and self-taught, he also trained in multimedia technologies.
His artistic approach aims to create synergies between the dancer, his movement and the light, which he uses in a variety of ways: photographic projection, videography or the use of luminous or reflective objects.
He founded the creation and development studio “OKUS LAB” to distribute his projects and promote his collaborations.
Through a series of projects and choreographic encounters, he created a body development method called “OKUS FOKUS”.
This method is based on the imposition of constraints on the dancer’s movements, which in turn generates a renewed spontaneity and a liberation of movement. This method reveals a new “being” in the dancer.
In 2017, he performs and works as a visual designer for Philippe Talard in the prison of Lecce (Italy). He has the chance to co-choreograph and transmit his vision of movement to the inmates.
In 2018, he participated in a TEDx conference organised in Liège (Talk: “From Genetics to Urban Dance”).
He created the museum concept “Okus Pendulum” and presented it at Mudam (The Museum of Contemporary Art of Luxembourg – 2019) and at the KMSKA (The Royal Museum of Fine Arts Antwerp – 2021).
Manu Di Martino is personally learning to use 3D software and his projects are currently focused on virtual immersion (VR). The OKUS Immersive FOKUS project is currently in development in collaboration with Poolpio (Brussels-based immersive content creation studio).
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