1-54 Contemporary African Art Fair, has announced a programme of Special Projects for its 11th London edition.
1-54 Presents, a new programme of pop-up exhibitions by 1-54 is pleased to announce Transatlantic Connections: Caribbean Narratives in Contemporary Art opening at Christie’s London Headquarters to coincide with the fair. On view from 10th to 13th October 2023, this group exhibition brings together a selection of works by artists from the Caribbean and Caribbean diaspora to explore cultural similarities across generations and geographies.
Specially commissioned for the Edmond J. Safra Fountain Court, Moroccan artist Amine El Gotaibi will present ‘Illuminate the Light’ in collaboration with MCC Gallery (Marrakech, Morocco). This monumental installation consists of geometric sculptures made of Corten steel and inspired by the seeds of a pomegranate that vary in shape, representing the diversity of the African continent.
To celebrate the fair’s biggest edition, the Nigerian recording artist Mr Eazi will present ‘The Evil Genius’, a remarkable, first-of-its-kind fusion of contemporary African art and music. This special exhibition listening experience will showcase unique works by 13 artists, each corresponding to a track from his forthcoming album of the same name.
This year’s edition of 1-54 London will see renowned artist Theresah Ankomah present a new woven installation titled ‘Y? y? d?m’ within the soaring rotunda of Somerset House’s Nelson Staircase. Theresah Ankomah pushes the boundaries of art by exploring the intricacies of weaving and craft in relation to issues of geopolitics, consumerism, gender, identity, and capitalism.
Art platform artHARARE’s presentation at 1-54 London will include a selection of artworks by leading Zimbabwean emerging visual artists, Franklyn Dzingai, Wilfred Timire, Tafadzwa Tega, Option Dzikamai Nyahunzvi, Prudence Chimutuwah, Mostaff Muchawaya, and Linnet Rubaya, whose works span various media including mixed media, prints, works on canvas and paintings.
Artist Afroscope, Alice Raymond and Kwaku Opoku will present works born from their collaborations with women’s textile weaving collectives and Nubuke Foundation’s Centre for Textile and Clay in Wa, Ghana.
Nando’s will return as a Bronze Sponsor for 1-54 London 2023, in partnership with Spier Arts Trust. This patronage of contemporary Southern African art both enables career development opportunities for artists and the curation of Nando’s body of work.
With renowned professor and archaeologist Monica Hana, collaborative art collective LOOTY executed a daring ‘Digital Heist’ at the British Museum, utilising cutting-edge LiDAR technology to record detailed scans of the Rosetta Stone (Hajar Rashid). LOOTY will offer visitors of 1-54 a virtual AR version of the Rosetta Stone accessible via smartphones.Coty Inc., one of the world’s largest beauty companies, has partnered with 1-54 to showcase innovative works by artists from across Africa for the launch of the organization’s most ambitious fragrance project to date Infiniment Coty Paris. The first artworks developed by artists Mous Lamrabat (Loft Art Gallery), Thandiwe Muriu (Gallery 193), Younes Khourassani (La Galerie 38), Deborah Segun (The Breeder) and Francisco Vidal (Gallery 193) for the collaboration will be unveiled during 1-54 London inside the Infiniment Coty Paris Gallery.
1-54 Contemporary African Art Fair, Somerset House, London, 12th – 15th October 2023
