Artists to watch from this years 1-54 African Contemporary Art Fair
This year's 1-54 marked the 10th anniversary of the African Contemporary Art Fair at Somerset House, and its largest fair to date. With 50 international exhibitors across 21 countries, 17 of these galleries were from the African continent and 14 galleries were participating in the exhibition for the very first time.
We went to preview the fair which began with Founding Director Touria El Glaoui providing inspiring words in acknowledgement of the great progress the Fair has made since its inaugural fair in 2013. We were both moved and inspired by the works on display from artists including Grace Kilomba, Charlene Komuntale and Price Gyasi. Here’s our list of artist who stood out at 1-54 Contemporary African Art Fair 2022.
Charlene Komuntale
Image: Charlene Komuntale, Endearment Dress, 2022, 1-54 Art Fair at Somerset House, October 2022, MTotoe
#FLODown: Charlene Komuntale is a digital artist and illustrator based in Kampala, Uganda. At 1-54 she showcased her series “Not Fragile”, in which she challenges the patriarchal view of women whilst also seeminglessly depicting the tenderness, strength and unapologetic confidence and beauty of black women. Each of the faces of her subjects are shielded by a box, which has "not fragile" stamped in red tape. A move by Komuntale to challenge the stereotypical depiction of women in art, which has been dominated by the male gaze.
Prince Gyasi
Image: Prince Gyasi, Same Team (Large Format), 2022, 1-54 Art Fair at Somerset House, October 2022, MTotoe
#FLODown: Prince Gyasi is a 23 years old Ghanaian creative and visual artist. Using just an iPhone he creates bold images that tell the stories of marginalised individuals who are often pushed aside in society. Most of his images are created in his hometown of Accra, where he uses the surrounding landscapes and community as his muse, creating imagery that reflects the human emotions that are tied into people's lives life, such as fatherhood, motherhood or childhood. Gyasi captures images of resiliency and strength through his striking silhouettes placed against brightly altered landscapes and vivid backgrounds. His art challenges the stereotypical standards of beauty in showcasing the nobility and grace of black skin.
In using an iPhone to capture this distinct imagery, Gyasi has been able to break artistic barriers and challenge the elitism found within the art industry.
Angèle Etoundi Essamba
Image: Angèle Etoundi Essamba, Coulisses de la féminité 3, 2019, 1-54 Art Fair at Somerset House, October 2022, MTotoe
#FLODown: Angèle Etoundi Essamba is a Cameroonian artist whose photography reflects the identity of African Women. Her work breaks with the stereotypical depiction of African Women and African culture, and challenges preconceived ideas. She gives her subjects meaning and greatness. Since her first exhibition in 1985 at the Maison Descartes in Amsterdam, her work has been frequently exhibited in museums, institutions, biennales, fairs, and galleries around the world.
Odinakachi Okoroafor
Image: Artist: Odinakachi Okoroafor, The comforter II, 2022, 1-54 Art Fair at Somerset House, October 2022, MTotoe
#FLODown: Odinakachi Okoroafor a Nigerian mixed media artist whose work draws inspiration from his childhood and community. Barcode lines feature prominently in his work, appearing as clusters that comprise the figures of his painting’s featured subjects. These lines similar to scars are symbolic of the complex histories of the body as a commodity, both historically and in the present-day context.
Option Nyahunzvi
Image: Artist: Option Nyahunzvi,Tarisiro, (Hope) I, 2022, 1-54 Art Fair at Somerset House, October 2022, MTotoe
#FLODown: Zimbabwe-born artist Option Nyahunzvi's artistry focuses on the connection or disconnection of present-day Zimbabwe. His work focuses on spirituality central to his Shona culture and carefully explores the link between ancestral spirits and the living. His works on show at 1-54 for Unit London were both bold and thought-provoking.
Isshaq Ismail
Image: Isshaq Ismail, 1-54 Art Fair at Somerset House, October 2022, MTotoe
#FLOLondon: Isshaq Ismail is a Ghanaian artist commonly known for his bold, colourful paintings that explore how the social, cultural and political attitudes and conditions of contemporary life impact identity. In a style that he describes as “infantile semi-abstraction,” Ismail paints grotesquely accentuated faces and figures. Through his striking and evocative work, Ismail interrogates the status quo on beauty, leaving us to challenge our own views.
Grada Kilomba
Image: Grada Kilomba, installation of O Barco /The Boat for 1-54 Art Fair in the courtyard of Somerset House, October 2022, MTotoe
#FLOLondon: Grada Kilomba is an interdisciplinary artist whose work draws on memory, trauma, gender and post-colonialism, interrogating concepts of knowledge, power and violence. This year 1-54 showcased O Barco / The Boat, a thought-provoking large-scale installation by Kilomba in the courtyard of Somerset House. Composed of 140 wood blocks, the configuration of which outlines the lower ‘hold’ of a historical European slave ship. The blocks contain poems in 6 different languages, inscribed into their textured surfaces. Directly addressing the history of European maritime expansion and colonisation, the piece invites the audience to consider forgotten stories. Alongside the sculpture, a gripping live performance was given that allowed audiences to reflect on past memories whilst looking towards the future. We were in awe.
