Five Highlights from this Year’s London 1-54 Contemporary Art Fair

At London’s Somerset House this past weekend, dozens of artists from Africa and across the diaspora exhibited their work at this year’s London edition of the 1-54 Contemporary African Art Fair. The expansive fair featured 44 galleries, including a handful like O’DA (Lagos), TINTERA (Cairo), OH Gallery (Dakar) making their debuts at 1-54 London.

In addition to walls lined with a wide range of art across multiple mediums, there were also special installations, headlined by Mónica de Miranda’s courtyard installation, Earthworks, an ecological project accompanied by a rolodex of live performances.

OkayAfrica was present at the fair and here are five highlights that caught our eyes.

Justin Dingwall’s Surreal Portrayal of Black Beauty

South African fine artist Justin Dingwall has gained recognition over the years for his exploratory portraits that challenge beauty standards within the context of black and African cultural attitudes. Dingwall was one of Cape Town-based gallery Eclectica Contemporary’s two artists on display at 1-54 London, and his series of mixed media photographs continue his exploration of the elemental and infinite beauty of blackness, making for a surreal and captivating viewing experience.

Serwan Baran Translates Conflict in Vivid Colors and Emotion

Partly based in Cairo, Egypt, Iraqi fine artist Serwan Baran uses his work to interrogate the political turmoil in the Middle East and its psychological effects. His acrylic paintings in London continued his distinct style, merging colorful realism with abstract tones. A look at his paintings at the fair emphasizes a cohesive throughline, with the emotional weight of conflict and survival given an immersive outlet.

Afeez Onakoya Intertwines Bodies

In the paintings exhibited by Afeez Onakoya, human bodies are symbolically braided together, an intertwining that simultaneously highlights and deepens the bonds between us. The Lagos-based Nigerian artist has shown his adeptness in channeling deep reflections of human emotion in his previous, and the same candor applies to his charcoal and acrylic paintings at 1-54 London, from sexual encounters to fight scenes.

The Spiritual Overtones in Kofi Agorsor’s Sculptures

Veteran multi-faceted artist Kofi Agorsor defies easy categorization. The sculptural bodies he crafts are a result of years of training across ritual and post-colonial environments, indebted to ancestral spirituality while also influenced by modern techniques in his rigorous process. His sculptural installations at this year’s fair are integral to London and Accra-based Gallery 1957’s exploration of the transformations of histories and traditions as the world turns more contemporary.

Laetitia Ky Delivers Potent Social Commentary with Hair Sculpting

For Ivorian artist Laetitia Ky, the myriad of ways black women style their hair is inspiring, particularly as a symbol of individuality and autonomy. Ky’s towering hair sculptures, captured in striking photos, often incorporate feminist motifs, shirking conservative norms and subverting anti-black rhetoric often spewed regarding African hair textures. Her social commentary was part of LIS10 Gallery’s exhibition, which also featured works by the iconic South African artist Esther Mahlangu.