QUOTATION # 122.

[On Making African Artists Internationally Visible.]

“People sometimes think we are all doing super-well because of two or three stars at auction……(it’s) a false impression — total sales of art from the continent and the diaspora are still comparatively very small.

……At the moment, I know how important our fair is, from an African perspective [for raising visibility]. 

But there will be a time — maybe in 10 years — when everyone is completely engaged with African art like they are engaged with the rest of the world and we won’t have the same role.

I’m sure I’m the only art fair director who would say something like this, but the best future for 1-54 is when we don’t need it any more.”

TOURIA EL GLAOUI.

Dawit Adnew, Another Lifestyle (2022). Acrylic on canvas. 135 x 135cm. Courtesy the artist and Addis Fine Art.

**********NBA COMMENT: 

Somerset House in London saw the return of 1-54 Contemporary African Art Fair last week, marking the fair’s tenth anniversary in London. 

There were 50 exhibitors from across the globe, presenting CAA from over 130 artists from Africa and its diaspora.

Coinciding with Frieze London and Frieze Masters, 1-54 London 2022 rounds off one of the busiest weeks of the London art calendar with a memorable offering from some of the world’s leading contemporary galleries. 

The complete report of the interview given by Touria El Glaoui, the founder and director of 1-54 can be read here, 

https://www.ft.com/content/da56a64b-a6e0-42d1-bb8e-4e7a77ddec6c

Adjani Okpu-Egbe, Fabricated Anthropology (Quadriptych) (2019). Mixed media on wooden door panels. 200 x 305 x 28 cm. Courtesy the artist and Eduardo Secci, Florence/Milan.

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