‘The Fortress, 2014’ by Kiluanji Kia Henda (Angola) – 1-54 Courtyard Sculpture Commission‘The Purple Shall Govern, 2019’ by Mary Sibande (South Africa) as part of her solo exhibition I Came Apart at the Seams‘Turn, turn, turn, 2019’ by Mary Sibande (South Africa) as part of her solo exhibition I Came Apart at the Seams‘History Papers, 2019’ by Adeunmi Gbadebo (USA)Detail of ‘History Papers, 2019’ by Adeunmi Gbadebo (USA) – a mix of cotton, indigo dye and human hair.Close-up detail of ‘History Papers, 2019’ by Adeunmi Gbadebo (USA) – a mix of cotton, indigo dye and human hair.Quilted portraits of African-Americans by Bisa Butler (USA)‘Macho Nne: The Honeycomb, 2019’ by Cyrus Kabiru (Kenya)‘It’s My Time & There Has To Be Another Way, 2019’ by Evans Mwangi (Kenya)From the series Interwoven by Kyle Meyer (USA)Circle Art Gallery from Kenya‘Failed Coup, 2019’ by Shabu Mwangi (Kenya)Art on the wall ‘Dexu Adüna, 2019’ is by Alexis Peskine (France) and the bike installation ‘MBK100, 2018’ is by Romuald Hazoumè (Benin)‘Carriage Clock, 2019’ by Yinka Shonibare, CBE (UK)‘The American Library Collections (Philanthropists), 2019’ by Yinka Shonibare, CBE (UK)‘Tightrope: Noiseless 14, 2019’ by Elias Sime (Ethiopia)Detail of ‘Tightrope: Noiseless 14, 2019’ by Elias Sime (Ethiopia)I saw Noma’s bag by Kenyan artist Michael Soi and I just had to take a picture.Photographs in lightboxes by Michel Papami Kameni (Cameroon)‘Untitled (boxes), 2018’ by Gareth Nyandoro (Zimbabwe)Detail of inside ‘Untitled (boxes), 2018’ by Gareth Nyandoro (Zimbabwe)Detail of inside ‘Untitled (boxes), 2018’ by Gareth Nyandoro (Zimbabwe)‘Speed Demon 1, 2, 3 & 4, 2019’ by Boris Nzebo (Gabon)On the wall is ‘Fatherhood’ by Prince Gyasi (Ghana) and the sculptures are by Alimi Adewale (Nigeria)This is me checking out Mxolisi Dolla Sapeta (South Africa) artist’s studio in South Africa using Virtual Reality (VR)‘Golden Horde 5, 2006’ by Hew Locke (Scotland)Close-up detail of ‘Golden Horde 5, 2006’ by Hew Locke (Scotland)‘L’écume de la mer, 2019’ by Louisa MarajoDetail of ‘L’écume de la mer, 2019’ by Louisa Marajo (Martinique)A sculpture by Jake Michael Singer (South Africa)Photographs from the exhibition Water Life by Aïda Muluneh (Ethiopia)Pop-up exhibition storefront for Jamm Rek: Quotidien Senegal a photography exhibition by Laylah Amatullah Barrayn (USA)Signage of the pop-up exhibition for Jamm Rek: Quotidien Senegal a photography exhibition by Laylah Amatullah Barrayn (USA)‘Marche HLM, 2013’ as part of Jamm Rek: Quotidien Senegal a photography exhibition by Laylah Amatullah Barrayn (USA)Top ‘Les Femme Paying Respect to Mame Diarra Bousso, 2015’ and bottom ‘Baye Fall Alamadies, 2014’ as part of Jamm Rek: Quotidien Senegal a photography exhibition by Laylah Amatullah Barrayn (USA)‘Sokhna Khady Ba, 2014’ as part of Jamm Rek: Quotidien Senegal a photography exhibition by Laylah Amatullah Barrayn (USA)Curator of Jamm Rek: Quotidien Senegal a photography exhibition by Laylah Amatullah Barrayn (USA), Atim Annette Oton, speaking to my friend WasiSomerset House Seaman’s Hall at dusk‘Baga Nimba (Gold), 2019’ by Niyi Olagunju (Nigeria)‘Green button Qarboush, 2019’ by Qarm Qart (Egypt)Triptych of ‘The Urban Mask, 2019’ by Kagiso Patrick Mautloa (South Africa)Guests minglingWith Aude Konan a writer and filmmaker from Ivory CoastWith legendary photographers Joy Gregory (UK) and Sunil Gupta (India)With Arlene Wandera a sculptor from Kenya.With artists Celine_A (France) and Evans Mbugua (Kenya)Somerset House courtyard at night
It was an early start for me as I RSVP’d to be at the Press Preview breakfast and launch of the 1-54 Contemporary African Art Fair. The previous day it was raining heavily on and off and I was hoping that the weather would stay nice and calm. Luckily the sun came out to play and the morning air was crisp, but it was cold. And it is Black History Month!
This is the seventh edition of the fair which is held at Somerset House with 45 galleries from Europe, Africa, the Middle East and North America showcasing contemporary African art from all over the world with 15 of those galleries showcasing for the first time.
This year, the 1-54 Courtyard Sculpture Commission is The Fortress by Angolan artist Kiluanji Kia Henda and for South African Mary Sibande, a first major solo UK exhibition of her photographic and sculptural works I Came Apart at the Seams which will continue on after the fair has ended until 5th January 2020. Another solo exhibition that will continue on after the fair until 20th October is an Afrofuturist tableaux Water Life by Ethiopian photographer and artist, Aïda Mulunehwith a further nine solo exhibitions by various artists being displayed during the fair.
For me, this year 1-54 was an amazing experience as it was a long day of looking at artwork, networking and taking pictures. I even managed to squeeze in a visit to a pop-up hosted by Mak Gallery of a photography exhibition Jamm Rek: Quotidien Senegal by Laylah Amatullah Barrayn which ends on the same day on Sunday 6th October as 1-54. So, if you are in the area, please go and check it out. The address is 62 Church Street, London, NW8 8ET – nearest station is Edgware Road.
I went back to Somerset House for the evening event of drinks and more networking then I decided to call it a night.
Please give yourself plenty of time to walk through the fair’s space if you do decide to go, as there is so much to see judging from the ‘few’ photographs I have shared. And there are also screenings and talks happening as well, which are free to ticket holders, but you will need to book as spaces can be limited.
If you are reading this before the 06th of October and are in London, please go and see it. I highly recommend it. Tickets are £25.00 for Day Ticket/ £10.00 concessions. Children under 12 go free. Friday is FREE for students with student ID.
