Last Thursday we took the Eurostar to London for the opening of 1-54. With more 60 participating galleries, it was the largest edition so far, with over a thousand artworks on view. We already talked about Raymond Fuyana’s solo booth presentation at Guns&Rain – which obviously was the highlight of our visit, but below some other of our favorites:
Tinyiko Makwakwa, “Akaya”, 2023. Linen and ochre within cotton thread| 99 × 124 × 1 cm.
Presented by Kalashnikovv gallery from Johannesburg, two linen works by Tinyiko Makwakwa immediately caught our eye. This self-taught artist born in 1984 got a second solo show at the gallery last year and creates works unlike anything else but nonetheless looking very familiar, timeless and universal. Check out the artist’s other works here or read more about her here.
Kwadwo A Asiedu, “Providence”, 2023. Acrylic on canvas - 153 × 102 × 10 cm
“Providence” by the Ghanian artist Kwadwo A. Asiedu (b. 1987) was shown by DADA gallery, with Kristin Hjellegjerde Gallery having exhibited the artist last year at their gallery. His painterly collages of fragments of nature rendered in different colours and textures presented a very fresh take on landscape painting.
Tegene Kunbi, “Untilted”, 2023. Oil on canvas with textile | 45 × 35 × 2.5 cm
We had talked about the Ethiopian artist Tegene Kunbi in our blog post “An introduction to non-figurative contemporary African art”, so we were happy to see the Italian gallery Primo Marella had brought two of his works to London – the texture and surface of the artist’s paintings can only be fully appreciated in real life.
Nabil El Makhloufi, “Milky way”, 2023. Acrylic on canvas | 120 × 200 cm
This big diptych by Morocco-born Nabil El Makhloufi (b. 1973) was impossible to miss. While very dreamy in its technique, this gathering around a fire oozed with layers of possible interpretations. A very thought-provoking painting in these times of forced migration.
J.K. Bruce-Vanderpuije, “Optimists Club, Accra, 1930s”, 120 x 92 cm.
Dubai-based Efie Gallery was showing several historical photographs of J.K. Bruce-Vanderpuije (b. 1899), one of the few commercial photographers operating in Accra in the 1930s. The above portrait he shot of the “Optimists Club” reminded me of the group portraits of the 17th century Dutch old masters, such as this example by Jan de Bray from 1675.
Malangatana Ngwenya, “Untitled”, 1993. Oil on canvas | 182 × 137 cm
Several galleries at 1-54 also presented modern African paintings, such as Richard Saltoun who, among other artists, showed several works by Malangatana Ngwenya (1936-2011) from Mozambique. The above ‘Breughelian’ masterpiece in his unique style being the center of the show.
Mmangaliso Nzuza, “Show and tell”, 2023. Oil on canvas,| 170 × 150 × 5 cm.
THK Gallery presented several paintings by self-taught South-African artist Mmangaliso Nzuza (b. 1998). A rising star, his paintings quickly found buyers. The artist discusses his influences and subjects in this Youtube video. As a Belgian, his style and colours also reminded me of the Flemish expressionists such as Permeke, De Smet and Van den Berghe. Definitely an artist to keep an eye on!
Epheas Maposa, “Before The Moon”, 2023. Oil on Canvas, 174 × 118 × 2 cm.
Another painter only getting better and better is Epheas Maposa (b. 1994). There is something unmistakingly Zimbabwean about his portraits – not unlike Mostaff Muchawaya’s paintings. You can get an opportunity to discover his work later this week in Paris during AKAA where other works will be shown by 31 Project.
Aïda Muluneh, “On Remembrance Of Wrongs” (2022). 80 x 116 cm.
Efie Gallery showed three new photographs by the Ethiopian artist Aïda Muluneh. With her typical use of primary colours and striking setting, her works never fail to intrigue and wonder. I’m still thinking about this photo and what it might be about.
Ibrahim El-Salahi, “Pain Relief Drawings”, varying sizes.
Lastly, Vigo Gallery presented a group of small-format “Pain Relief Drawings” by Ibrahim El-Salahi (b. 1930), which the artist has been creating since 2016. Inspired by Arabic calligraphy, as well as Surrealist figuration and geometric abstraction, the Sudanese master created a distinctive visual language that he expresses most prolifically in these small drawings on the inside of cardboard medicine packets .
Other favorites were a series of photographs by Zanele Muholi, a new masterpiece by Eddy Kamuanga Ilunga shown by October Gallery, featuring a Luba bowl bearer by the Master of Buli, and new works by the Madagascar artist Joël Andrianomearisoa, such as the beautiful ‘Our last sunset before you go’ shown by Primo Marella Gallery.
Obviously, there was much more to discover, and I only spend 4 hours at the fair. Let me know if I can tell you more about any of these artists. If you are in the mood for more, I can recommend the AKAA fair in Paris this week, 20-22 October – I’ll be there on Friday afternoon – you can find all details here.
Yours truly,
Bruno
Ps: A special mention should go to Tuli Mekondjo, shown in our first two group exhibitions in Antwerp, we were delighted to see a work from her on view at Frieze in the booth of Hales Gallery. The first ever presentation of a Namibian artist at the fair!
Tuli Mekondjo, “The burden of the soil of the land” (2022). Image transfer, mahangu, resin, spray paint, acrylic ink, cotton embroidery thread, cotton crochet yarn, and rusted cotton fabric on canvas - 210 x 85 cm.
