1:54

This article is about international African art fair. For 2016 French Canadian film by Yan England, see 1:54 (film).

1:54 is a contemporary African art fair. It held two shows in London beginning in 2013, and a New York City pop-up show in 2015.

History

1:54 debuted in October 2013 as a contemporary African art fair held in the Somerset House of London. Moroccan curator Touria El Glaoui, daughter of the artist Hassan El Glaoui, organized the fair. Its name derives from the 54 countries that compose the African continent,[1] or "one continent: 54 countries".[2] Okay Africa wrote that by its second year, the fair had become Europe's foremost contemporary African art fair.[1] The October 2014 show, also held in Somerset House,[3] coincided with Frieze Week and doubled the size of the previous exhibition. Over 100 African artists exhibited in 27 galleries.[1] Lookup notable participants for inclusion here[1] The fair featured a series of lectures and panels, including a set curated by Koyo Kouoh of the Sengalese Raw Material Company,[1] film screenings, and curator discussions on the future of African art.[3] London-based studio RA Projects designed the exhibit.[3]

After two years in London, 1:54 held a pop-up show, 1:54 NY, at the Red Hook art venue Pioneer Works in May 2015, which coincided with Frieze New York. RA Projects returned to design the exhibit. Kouoh was scheduled to return to lead a forum.[3] 16 international galleries participated, which were American and European apart from five South African galleries, and one each from Cote d'Ivoire, Morocco, and Nigeria.[2] 1:54 held a second New York show in 2016 with 17 galleries, including five based in Africa.[4] As of 2015, 1:54 is the only art fair dedicated to African art in the primary art sector.[5]

Reception

Okay Africa wrote that by its second year, the fair had become Europe's foremost contemporary African art fair.[1] Ben Davis of Artnet wrote that 1:54 NY was a highlight of New York's art fair week. He paused at the art fair trend to lump by region—citing examples of "Asian", "Latin American", and "Middle Eastern" art fairs—but wrote that Africa's entry was "significant" (for what?) despite the issues of generalizing for a region based on its parts. Davis juxtaposed the fair's sparse African gallery representation with an acknowledgement from 1:54 director El Glaoui about the African art scene's nascent state.[2] Considering the similar lack of African gallery representation at the 2016 New York fair, Artsy's Tess Thackara credited the continent's history of political instability, which affects both overseas trade and gallery security.[4]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "1:54 Contemporary African Art Fair Returns To London With 27 Galleries & 100+ Artists". Okay Africa. Archived from the original on May 29, 2016. Retrieved May 28, 2016.
  2. 1 2 3 Davis, Ben (May 16, 2015). "1:54 Contemporary African Art Fair Is Full of Good Art and Tough Questions". Artnet News. Archived from the original on May 29, 2016. Retrieved May 28, 2016.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Greenberger, Alex (January 6, 2015). "1:54 Contemporary African Art Fair Announces New York Pop-Up". Artnews. Archived from the original on May 29, 2016. Retrieved May 28, 2016.
  4. 1 2 Thackara, Tess (May 6, 2016). "1:54 Is Providing a Crucial Platform for Contemporary African Art". Artsy. Archived from the original on May 29, 2016. Retrieved May 28, 2016.
  5. ↑ Artsy Editorial (July 21, 2015). "Understanding Contemporary African Art's Hard-won Rise to the Art World Main Stage". Artsy. Archived from the original on July 22, 2015. Retrieved July 22, 2015.

External links

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