1-54 London 2023 is coming back from the 12th to the 15th of October!
More information coming soon!
Of the 50 international exhibitors, 16 galleries are from the African continent, and 14 galleries will participate at the fair’s London edition for the first time. Newcomers to the fair include albertz benda (New York, USA), Berntson Bhattacharjee Gallery (London, UK), Galleria Poggiali (Milan, Florence, Italy), Portas Vilaseca Galeria (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil), Selebe Yoon (Dakar, Senegal), and Unit London (London, UK), among others.
New and returning exhibitors presented over 130 artists working across an array of mediums from painting and sculpture to mixed media and installation. Works from established artists such as Ibrahim El-Salahi, Hassan Hajjaj, and Zanele Muholi to young and emerging artists including Sola Olulode andPedro Neves were on view.
1-54 London 2022 was accompanied by a range of special projects and events, in addition to 1-54 Forum, the fair’s multi-disciplinary programme of talks, screenings, performances, workshops, and readings which was curated by Dr Omar Kholeif. Please visit this page for more information.
In collaboration with Somerset House, interdisciplinary Lisbon-based artist Grada Kilomba brought her critically acclaimed installation O Barco / The Boat to Somerset House’s courtyard from 29 September – 19 October 2022. The striking 32-metre-long installation is composed of 140 blocks, the configuration of which outlines the lower ‘hold’ of an historical European slave ship. Charred by the artist, the blocks contain poems in 6 different languages, intricately inscribed into their texture surfaces. Directly addressing the history of European maritime expansion and colonisation, the piece invites the audience to consider forgotten stories and identities. Alongside its sculptural elements, the artwork included live performance, combining song, music, and dance, with music production by award-winning writer and musician Kalaf Epalanga. Designed and directed by the artist, the live ensemble brings new meaning to O Barco / The Boat, both acknowledging memories of the past and looking towards the future. Making its UK debut, Kilomba’s installation was on view, with performances during 1-54 on the 13th and 14th October 2022.
Thanks to 1-54’s long-standing partnership with Artsy, visitors were also able to explore, connect with, and collect from all the galleries and artists online from 13 – 31 October at artsy.net/1-54.ioioioiio
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