1:54 Contemporary African Art Fair marked its fourth year with the first UK solo retrospective of the late Malian photographer Malick Sidibé, who died earlier this year. With rarely seen photographs such as A la plage (1974) and Les Retrouvailles au bord de fleuve Niger (1974) exhibited, the show was curated by André Magnin and Philippe Boutté, who focussed on themes that 1:54 founding director Touria El Glaoui believes best characterises Sidibé’s black and white photography: life on the Niger river, nightlife in Bamako and studio portraits.
’A moi seul’, by Malick Sidibé, 1978.
With 40 international contemporary African art galleries exhibiting at the fair – including ARTLabAfrica from Nairobi, Galerie Cécile Fakhoury from Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, and newly launched Gallery 1957 from Accra, Ghana – the work at this year’s edition of 1:54 possessed a similar crossover impact to Sidibé, with galleries and artists teetering on the cutting edge of African contemporary art. ‘We’re thrilled to have 16 Africa-based galleries this year,’ said El Glaoui preceding the show. ‘New among these are Village Unhu from Harare, Zimbabwe, Mashrabia Gallery of Contemporary Art from Cairo, and L’Atelier 21 from Casablanca, Morocco.’
El Glaoui’s rare knowledge of the contemporary African art scene, garnered from a lifetime of travel across the continent, was evident in the wide range of practices on display. ‘This year’s site-specific installations are a highlight,’ she explained. Therein, Vigo Gallery’s Zak Ové took over Somerset House's historic Edmond J Safra Fountain Court, and El Glaoui also highlights ‘Ifeanyi Oganwu’s collaborative lounge design, and Bandjoun Station’s mobile cafeteria, in which Barthélémy Toguo, a nominee for the 2016 French Prix Marcel Duchamp, will be serving West Cameroonian coffee’. As contemporary African art gains traction in the west, 1:54 was an ideal chance to see an accurate representation of the scene, away from sales and market hyperbole.
Les Retrouvailles au bord du fleuve Niger, by Malick Sidibé, 1974.
Dansez le Twist, by Malick Sidibé, 1965.
Thumbs Up, by Namsa Leuba, 2014, from the series ’Zulu Kids’.
Untitled, by Mustafa Maluka, 2015.
Please kill us, by Éric Hussenot, 2010
Nuit de Noël (Happy Club), by Malick Sidibé, 1963.
Combat des amis avec pierres, by Malick Sidibé, 1976.
INFORMATION
’Malick Sidibé: The Eye of Modern Mali’ runs until 15 January 2017. The 1:54 Contemporary African Art Fair ran from 6–9 October. For more information, visit the website
ADDRESS
Somerset House
Strand
London WC2R 1LA
-
Modern masters: the ultimate guide to Jean-Michel BasquiatNew York artist Jean-Michel Basquiat centred the Black subject in political, electric works which resist easy definition
-
The Citroën Ami Dark Side is a special edition electric city car with a true Halloween vibeTrick or treat? The Dark Side edition of the tiny Citroën Ami is a gothic delight for micro-minded commuters
-
The Architecture Edit: Wallpaper’s houses of the monthFrom Malibu beach pads to cosy cabins blanketed in snow, Wallpaper* has featured some incredible homes this month. We profile our favourites below
-
Inside the work of photographer Seydou Keïta, who captured portraits across West Africa‘Seydou Keïta: A Tactile Lens’, an exhibition at the Brooklyn Museum, New York, celebrates the 20th-century photographer
-
‘It is about ensuring Africa is no longer on the periphery’: 1-54 Contemporary African Art Fair in LondonThe 13th edition of 1-54 London will be held at London’s Somerset House from 16-19 October; we meet founder Touria El Glaoui to chart the fair's rising influence
-
Alick Phiri’s black and white portraits capture the realities of post-colonial ZambiaAfter decades of capturing Zambia’s capital city, the photographer returns for an exhibition featuring his works alongside South Africa’s William Matlala
-
Love, community, anti-gay laws: the queer African artists redefining visibility through portraitsIn honour of Pride Month, Ugonnaora Owoh speaks to three artists on African queer legacies and their optimism in advocating for queer rights through art
-
Remembering Koyo Kouoh, the Cameroonian curator due to lead the 2026 Venice BiennaleKouoh, who died this week aged 57, was passionate about the furtherance of African art and artists, and also contributed to international shows, being named the first African woman to curate the Venice Biennale
-
Inside Yinka Shonibare's first major show in AfricaBritish-Nigerian artist Yinka Shonibare is showing 15 years of work, from quilts to sculptures, at Fondation H in Madagascar
-
Don’t miss these artists at 1-54 Contemporary African Art Fair 2024As the 1-54 Contemporary African Art Fair returns to London (10-13 October 2024), here are the artists to see
-
How Amy Sall is highlighting the beauty of African cinemaAmy Sall is highlighting the cultural impact of African filmmakers with ‘The African Gaze: Photography, Cinema and Power’, published by Thames & Hudson
