A REMARKABLE EXHIBITION OF AFRICA'S FINEST
13 OCTOBER 2023
Almasi Art Agency was delighted to attend this year’s 1-54 Contemporary African Art Fair that took place for the 11 th consecutive year at Somerset House, London. The leading art fair dedicated to the promotion of contemporary art from Africa and its diaspora presented a remarkable exhibition of some of the continent’s finest talent alongside other artists residing abroad who had worked on African subjects. This year, 62 international exhibitors (the Fair’s largest number to date) showcased artwork, one third of which were from the African continent, with 14 galleries showing at the fair’s London edition for the very first time. Over 170 artists were exhibited, working across a range of mediums that included painting and sculpture to mixed media and installation.
Specially commissioned for the Edmond J. Safra Fountain Court at Somerset House, the Moroccan artist Amine El Gotaibi presented his most ambitious work to date: “Illuminate the Light” in collaboration with MCC Gallery in Marrakech, Morocco. The artist presented twelve individual geometric sculptures inspired by the seeds of a pomegranate that vary widely in shape and colour, to represent the diversity and abundance of the African continent.
Wielding light as a solid medium within the sculptures, El Gotaibi also used light as a metaphor to foster positive stories of Africa to counter the West’s frequent stereotypes of the “dark continent.” At dusk, the sculptures transformed into luminous installations, underscoring the artist’s philosophy that “out of darkness, light emerges”. Via MCC Gallery
As an Agency that primarily promotes East African art, Kampala- based Afriart Gallery’s booth overseen by Director Daudi Karungi was of particular interest to AAA. Kenyan artist April Kamunde presented three standout pieces. Her recent body of work explores meanings of rest and the pursuit of it, from a personal and feminist angle.
The work is driven by personal reflection and response to feelings of weariness triggered by her recent experiences of the pandemic, a rapidly changing world and the endeavor to live a successful and fulfilling life in fast-paced Nairobi, one of Africa’s mega cities (via Afriart Gallery )
In an extravagant experience that offered an unforgettable cocktail of the finest of fine African art on three levels of Somerset House, London, the 2023 1-54 Contemporary African Art fair was an all-round success in organization and execution.
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