My Highlights from 1:54 Contemporary African Art Fair
In a smaller world where many concepts are repeated, contemporary African artists offer a fresh and unique perspective rarely seen in the major capitals. While many pieces from the fair should be part of a museum’s permanent collection, I have made a varied selection that individual collectors could adopt. Since we all respond to art in different ways, I chose to limit my description to my initial response, or impression of each piece, to a few words.
My Selection:
Soly Cissé, Adaption, 2014, at Primo Marella Gallery
Visual rhapsody.
Dominique Zinkpè, Complicité, 2011, at In Situ - Fabienne Leclerc
Mystic twist.
Vitshois Mwilambwe Bondo, Kitoko (Beautiful), 2013, at Primo Marella Gallery
Provocative vogueing.
Ouattara Watts, Don’t panic, think., 2008, at (S)ITOR/Sitor Senghor
Scientific elegance.
Gérard Quenum, L’angoisse du gardien de but au moment du penalty (The Goalkeeper’s Fear of the Penalty’), 2010, at October Gallery
... and all for one!
Maïmouna Guerresi, Surprise, 2010, at M.I.A. Gallery
We are all drawn in.
Aboudia, Untitled, 2014, at Jack Bell Gallery
Trapped by the factory.
Leonce Raphael Agbodjelou, Untitled triptych (Demoiselles de Porto-Novo series), 2012, at Jack Bell Gallery
Hidden exposure.
Peju Alatise, The Rapture of Olurombi’s Daughter, 2013, at Art Twenty One
A culture on trial.
