Last week, I had the pleasure of attending the 2024 edition of 1-54 Contemporary African Art Fair, held in London’s iconic Somerset House. Now in its 12th year, 1-54 has become a cornerstone of art week in London. This fair and Frieze Art Fair bring a palpable energy to the city generating excitement among art lovers, collectors and educators. This year’s exhibition was truly breathtaking; over sixty galleries showcased works from some of the most innovate creative minds from the continent and its diaspora.
What I loved most about this year’s exhibition was the ingenuity and resourcefulness on display. The artists were bold, inventive and conveyed a remarkable sense of creative freedom. Many of the pieces seamlessly overlaid different mediums such as photography and filmmaking, portraiture with embroidery, and paintings with mixed materials. RUKUS!, this year’s featured artist, used film, photography, music and newspaper clippings to highlight Black LGBTQ histories. Their work was detailed, personal yet vast and immersive in its presentation of this documented history.
Similarly, Zanele Muholi and Joana Choumali’s photographs seemed to take on a quieter more self-reflective tone. Muholi, incorporated intricate beadwork into their self-portraits, while Joana Choumali’s signature gold shimmering embroidered portraits (top image) gave her subjects an ethereal and reverential tone. These two artists are well-known and deeply respected; their respective pieces evoked 15th century tapestries reminiscent of those found in historic churches.
Also, it was wonderful to see new galleries participating in 1-54. ArtHARARE, for instance, showcased the artist Option Dzikamai Nyahunzvi. His paintings of Zimbabwean youth with exaggerated eyes, playing, or eating lollipops, were quirky and original. Each portrait included a background overlaid with a zig-zag motif, a symbolic homage to the artist’s Zimbabwean heritage.
Lastly, I enjoyed viewing Hyacinthe Ouattara’s pieces at 193 Gallery. Outtara, who comes from Burkina Faso, exhibited colorful textiles quilts and vibrant hanging installations. His artwork is whimsical and effervescent, yet it also exudes a certain sturdiness. Like the other artists mentioned, his work is captivating, original and embodies the ethos of creative freedom.
