Following a successful New York debut earlier this year, 1:54 Contemporary African Art Fair is set to return to London this October (15 – 18) to present its most substantial showcase yet. Taking place once again in the historic setting of Somerset House, the fair takes on an additional third wing this year and will feature 36 exhibitors representing more than 150 contemporary artists from Africa and the African diaspora.
Touria El Glaoui, Founding Director of 1:54 says:
It’s a great feeling to be announcing our return to London with a collection of galleries and artists of this calibre. The response to having doubled in size last year and debuted in New York has been overwhelming and as a result, some of the most inspiring contemporary artists from Africa will be represented at the fair. 1:54 London 2015 will continue to celebrate the diversity and growing popularity of art from Africa’s 54 countries and we hope that more people will visit and discover the quality of work being produced in the region and by its diaspora.”
As well as 32 galleries, 1:54 will feature four special projects and two solo shows including a unique lounge area designed by Hassan Hajjaj’s Morrocan based Larrache Studio. The individual shows include Kapwani Kiwanga’s Flowers for Africa, an exhibition celebrating the independence of the 54 African countries through the reproduction of flower arrangements and a Kinshasa street life photography exhibition by Congolese artist Kiripi Katembo.
Over the past three years, 1:54 has established itself as a leading voice on contemporary African art. 1:54 will host its hugely popular FORUM programme – a three-day critical conversations series comprising of artist talks, panel discussions and film screenings curated by Koyo Kouoh, Artistic Director of RAW Material Company and curator of 2016 EVA International, Ireland’s Biennial. With a focus on North Africa this year, discussion topics will include the current trajectories of contemporary African artistic production and practice. The conversations will explore the cultural diversity of artistic traditions that form the rich universe of the African experience.
The fair will be designed by award-winning architectural and design studio RA Projects (Rashid Ali). RA Projects will insert a series of richly coloured sculptural interventions across the East, South, and West Wings of Somerset House. Online platform Artsy will be producing an extensive digital catalogue of the fair at Artsy.net and on the Artsy iPhone app making it possible to experience the fair around the world.
For the full 1:45 FORUM Programme please visit the website http://www.1-54.com
Opening Hours: Thursday 15 October to Saturday 17 October: 12.00 –
20.00
Sunday 18 October: 12.00 – 18.00.
Tickets for 1:54 are available to purchase online via Eventbrite (booking fees apply): https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/154-contemporary-african-art-fair-tickets17896380556
Admission Types: Day £15.00 Day (concession) £10.00 Four Day £30.00
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