1-54

1:54 is an annual contemporary African art fair held in London, England, during the October Frieze Week since 2013. It was organized to improve the representation of contemporary African art in worldwide exhibitions, and is the foremost art fair dedicated to contemporary African art in the primary art market. By 2016, the show had become three times the size of the original exhibition, with 130 artists represented. A spin-off, pop-up show, 1:54 NY, has been held annually in New York City during the May Frieze New York since 2015. A third location, in Marrakech, began in 2018. Critics have described 1:54 as a highlight of the Frieze event, and wrote that the show's publicity for contemporary African art outweighs the issues of lumping disparate geographic traditions together. The fair's representation from African galleries has improved as the international market for African art expands.

History

1:54 is a contemporary African art fair held annually in London, beginning in 2013.{{r|Okay Africa: returns}} As of 2015, 1:54 is the only art fair dedicated to contemporary African art in the primary art market.{{r|Artsy: rise}} Its name refers to the 54 countries that compose the African continent,{{r|Okay Africa: returns}} expressed as a ratio ("one continent: 54 countries").{{r|Artnet: tough questions}} Moroccan curator Touria El Glaoui, daughter of the artist Hassan El Glaoui, organized the fair to improve the representation of contemporary African art in worldwide art exhibitions.{{r|Okay Africa: returns|FT: economic revival}} Representation of non-Western countries in the contemporary art world has lagged behind that of other countries.{{r|FT: economic revival|Blouin: NY 15}} Representation of African countries, in particular, improved alongside the continent's economic growth.{{r|FT: economic revival}} El Glaoui said that the continent did not have a single art scene, and that there was great diversity between African nations. Accordingly, as in the fair's title, 1:54 tries to preserve rather than homogenize the differences between each country's histories and cultures.{{r|Blouin: interview 2015}} In starting the fair, its founder was supported and advised by the British Council, the Francophonie, and partners ArtReview, Beaux Art magazine, and Art.sy. For each edition, the 1:54 organizers ask themselves "what is necessary, what can be achieved, how [to] do something different".{{r|Blouin: interview 2015}} The fair's organizers choose exhibitors based on proposal submissions and the firms' reputation and plans. Travel visa issues have also affected whether invitees ultimately attend.{{r|Blouin: interview 2015}}

File:The courtyard of Somerset House, London, 2016.jpg, where the London 1:54 fair is held]]

The fair debuted in October 2013 during Frieze Week, where about 6,000 people visited the fair held in Somerset House, London.{{r|FT: economic revival|Okay Africa: returns}} David Adjaye's company designed the fair's architectural features.{{r|Blouin: interview 2015}} By the next year, held at the same time and venue,{{r|ARTnews: pop-up}} the event had doubled in size,{{r|Okay Africa: returns}} with 10,000 visitors and a greater variety of curators from outside African-specific specialties.{{r|FT: economic revival}} More than 100 African artists exhibited in 27 galleries, including photographers J. D. 'Okhai Ojeikere, Malick Sidibé, Paul Sika, pop artist Hassan Hajjaj, sound artist Emeka Ogboh, and performance artist Athi-Patra Ruga.{{r|Okay Africa: returns}} Mid-20th century photography was in particular prominence.{{r|Art Review: 2013}} The fair featured a series of lectures and panels, including a set curated by Koyo Kouoh of the Senegalese Raw Material Company,{{r|Okay Africa: returns}} film screenings, and curator discussions on the future of African art.{{r|ARTnews: pop-up}} The 2014 event's primary sponsor was the Sindika Dokolo Foundation.{{r|Blouin: interview 2015}}

After two years in London, 1:54 held a pop-up show, 1:54 NY, at the Red Hook art venue Pioneer Works during the May 2015 Frieze New York. Kouoh returned to lead a forum{{r|ARTnews: pop-up}} on present and future ideas of African diasporic identities and practices,{{r|Blouin: interview 2015}} and RA Projects, who had previously worked with 1:54, returned to design the New York exhibit.{{r|ARTnews: pop-up}} The show used a standard gallery layout as the open, industrial space was divided into white-walled booths.{{r|Hyperallergic: NY 2015}} Sixteen international galleries participated{{emdash}}most were from American and European countries, apart from five South African galleries and one each from Côte d'Ivoire, Morocco, and Nigeria.{{r|Artnet: tough questions}} Exhibited artists were from African nations and the African diaspora, living in other Western countries.{{r|Blouin: interview 2015}} They included William Kentridge, Malick Sidibé, Seydou Keïta, Peter Clarke, Lavar Munroe, Billie Zangewa, and Omar Victor Diop.{{r|Hyperallergic: NY 2015}} Particularly due to the New York event's smaller size, 1:54's founder said that they tried to show the most exciting artists and exhibitors rather than show a survey of the 54 countries. The expansion into New York was a "natural progression" for the fair, based on their existing institutional relationships. It also expanded the fair's scope into American and African-American art professionals, and the American art market{{r|Blouin: interview 2015}}{{emdash}}the show's foremost focus was bringing new artists to New York patronage.{{r|Hyperallergic: NY 2015}} The event was planned in six months.{{r|Hyperallergic: NY 2015}} 1:54 held a second New York show in 2016 with 17 galleries, including five based in Africa,{{r|Artsy: crucial}} and a partnership with the Dakar Biennale.{{r|Blouin: interview 2016}} Dartmouth's Hood Museum of Art purchased Eric Van Hove's Testosterone installation.{{r|AiA: newest}} Compared to the London event, 1:54 NY is smaller and designed to be more intimate, with an active community and different audience, although the two shows are not significantly different.{{r|Blouin: interview 2016}}

In its third year in London, the 2015 show had 15,000 visitors.{{r|FT: emerging markets}} The fourth London show in October 2016 was three times the size of the original exhibition, and had expanded from a wing of Somerset House to the rest of the building and its courtyard, where Zak Ové installed a site-specific work{{r|Artnet: Stage It Deserves}} that was purchased for a sculpture park in Berkshire.{{r|FT: Art Market 2016}}

The 2016 fair featured 130 artists, including the fair's first artists representing Egypt, Ethiopia, and Ghana.{{r|Artnet: Stage It Deserves}} Koyo Kouoh's forum series returned to the event as well.{{r|ARTnews: 2016}} Of the 40 exhibitors from 18 countries,{{r|ARTnews: 2016}} 40 per cent were from Africa{{r|Artnet: Stage It Deserves}} and 17 galleries debuted at the show.{{r|CNN: next}} The fair's founder viewed these expansions as a sign of progress for the African art market.{{r|Il Sole: Touria}}

1:54 expanded into Marrakech in February 2018, its third location. Held at luxury hotel La Mamounia, the fair coincided with the 7th Marrakech Biennale.{{Cite web |last1=Muñoz-Alonso |first1=Lorena |last2=Nazif |first2=Perwana |last3=Cascone |first3=Sarah |title=1:54 Art Fair to Launch First Marrakech Edition in 2018 |work=Artnet News |date=2017-03-02 |url=https://news.artnet.com/market/154-art-fair-marrakech-edition-2018-875672 |df=mdy-all }} While 1-54 skipped its 2020 New York exhibition due to the COVID-19 pandemic,{{r|Cassell}} the London show exhibited in both 2020 and 2021.{{Cite web |last1=Abrams |first1=Amah-Rose |title='Are There Any Left?': A Sales Frenzy at London's 1-54 Fair Reflects the Heated Demand for African Contemporary Art |work=Artnet News |date=2021-10-14 |url=https://news.artnet.com/market/1-54-london-fair-report-2021-2020622 |language=en-US |access-date=2021-11-14 |df=mdy-all }} The New York show returned in May 2021.{{Cite web |last1=Cassell |first1=Dessane Lopez |title=1-54 New York Returns with an Emphasis on Textiles |work=Hyperallergic |date=2021-05-11 |url=http://hyperallergic.com/645127/1-54-new-york-2021/ |language=en-US |access-date=2021-11-14 |df=mdy-all }} When 1-54's 2021 Marrakech fair was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, a pop-up show in Paris, France, was organized in its place, in 18 of Christie's galleries. Paris and online access were more accessible to galleries and collectors than the more remote Marrakech.{{Cite web |last1=Shaw |first1=Anny |title=1-54 Contemporary African art fair pops up at Christie's in Paris as Marrakech edition is postponed |work=The Art Newspaper |date=2020-12-17 |url=https://www.theartnewspaper.com/2020/12/17/1-54-contemporary-african-art-fair-pops-up-at-christies-in-paris-as-marrakech-edition-is-postponed |access-date=2021-11-14 |df=mdy-all }}{{Cite web |last1=Sansom |first1=Anna |title=Pandemic Be Damned, 1-54 Has Kicked Off the 2021 Art Fair Calendar in Paris (Despite Travel Restrictions and a 6 PM Curfew) |work=Artnet News |date=2021-01-22 |url=https://news.artnet.com/art-world/1-54-paris-christies-1938902 |language=en-US |access-date=2021-11-14 |df=mdy-all }}

Reception

Okay Africa wrote that by its second year, the fair had become Europe's foremost contemporary African art fair,{{r|Okay Africa: returns}} and Naomi Rea of Artnet News called it a necessary visit during the London Frieze Art Fair.{{r|Artnet: Stage It Deserves}} In New York, Ben Davis of Artnet wrote that 1:54 NY was a highlight of the city's art fair week.{{r|Artnet: tough questions}} Critics had typically questioned whether art fairs with narrow geographic scope, such as 1:54, highlight or ostracize minority artists.{{r|AiA: newest}} A gallery owner from Seattle saw the fair as a route for further integration into larger markets.{{r|AiA: newest}} Artnet{{'s}} Davis expressed distaste at the art fair trend of lumping artists by their geographic region and generalizing trends based on its parts, but nonetheless considered important 1:54's representation of Africa.{{r|Artnet: tough questions}}

Critics initially noted the fair's lack of African gallery representation,{{r|Artnet: tough questions|Artsy: crucial}} but cited justification including the African art scene's nascent state{{r|Artnet: tough questions}} and the continent's history of political instability, which affects both overseas trade and gallery security.{{r|Artsy: crucial}} At the 2015 New York show, reviewers noted elements including the predominantly white gallery exhibition staff{{r|Hyperallergic: NY 2015}} and the marquee display of a popular artist at a fair for marginal artists.{{r|Blouin: NY 15}}

References

{{Reflist|refs=

{{Cite web |last1=Miller |first1=Leigh Anne |title=Making the Rounds at 1:54, NYCs Newest Art Fair, with Trevor Schoonmaker - Previews |work=Art in America |date=2015-05-15 |url=http://www.artinamericamagazine.com/news-features/previews/making-the-rounds-at-154-nycrsquos-newest-art-fair-with-trevor-schoonmaker/ |access-date=2017-01-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170206113151/http://www.artinamericamagazine.com/news-features/previews/making-the-rounds-at-154-nycrsquos-newest-art-fair-with-trevor-schoonmaker/ |archive-date=February 6, 2017 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }}

{{Cite web |last1=Rea |first1=Naomi |title=1:54 African Art Fair Finally Gets the Stage it Deserves |work=Artnet News |date=2016-10-08 |url=https://news.artnet.com/market/154-african-art-stage-it-deserves-691757 |access-date=2017-01-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170216023257/https://news.artnet.com/market/154-african-art-stage-it-deserves-691757 |archive-date=2017-02-16 |url-status=live |df=mdy-all }}

{{cite web |url=https://news.artnet.com/art-world/154-contemporary-african-art-fair-299080 |access-date=May 28, 2016 |title=1:54 Contemporary African Art Fair Is Full of Good Art and Tough Questions |last1=Davis |first1=Ben |date=May 16, 2015 |work=Artnet News |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160408073938/https://news.artnet.com/art-world/154-contemporary-african-art-fair-299080 |archive-date=April 8, 2016 |url-status=live |df=mdy }}

{{Cite web |last1=Scher |first1=Robin |title=1:54 Contemporary African Art Fair in London Announces Exhibitor List |work=ARTnews |date=2016-06-28 |url=http://www.artnews.com/2016/06/28/154-contemporary-african-art-fair-in-london-announces-exhibitor-list/ |access-date=2017-01-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160629164342/http://www.artnews.com/2016/06/28/154-contemporary-african-art-fair-in-london-announces-exhibitor-list/ |archive-date=2016-06-29 |url-status=live |df=mdy-all }}

{{cite web |url=http://www.artnews.com/2015/01/06/154-contemporary-african-art-fair-announces-new-york-pop-up/ |access-date=May 28, 2016 |title=1:54 Contemporary African Art Fair Announces New York Pop-Up |last1=Greenberger |first1=Alex |date=January 6, 2015 |work=ARTnews |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160413014821/http://www.artnews.com/2015/01/06/154-contemporary-african-art-fair-announces-new-york-pop-up/ |archive-date=April 13, 2016 |url-status=live |df=mdy }}

{{cite web |url=https://artreview.com/reviews/fair_report_154/ |access-date=January 28, 2017 |title=Fair report: 1.54 Contemporary African Art Fair |author=ArtReview |date=October 16, 2013 |work=Art Review |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141223020930/http://artreview.com/reviews/fair_report_154/ |archive-date=December 23, 2014 |url-status=live |df=mdy-all }}

{{cite web |url=https://www.artsy.net/article/artsy-editorial-1-54-is-providing-a-crucial-platform-for-contemporary-african-art |access-date=May 28, 2016 |title=1:54 Is Providing a Crucial Platform for Contemporary African Art |last1=Thackara |first1=Tess |date=May 6, 2016 |work=Artsy |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161222045227/https://www.artsy.net/article/artsy-editorial-1-54-is-providing-a-crucial-platform-for-contemporary-african-art |archive-date=December 22, 2016 |url-status=live |df=mdy }}

{{cite web |url=https://www.artsy.net/article/artsy-editorial-understanding-contemporary-african-art-s-hard-won-rise-to-the-art-world-main-stage |title=Understanding Contemporary African Art's Hard-won Rise to the Art World Main Stage |author=Artsy Editorial |date=July 21, 2015 |work=Artsy |access-date=July 22, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150725152959/https://www.artsy.net/article/artsy-editorial-understanding-contemporary-african-art-s-hard-won-rise-to-the-art-world-main-stage |archive-date=July 25, 2015 |url-status=live |df=mdy }}

{{Cite web |last1=Khare-Ghose |first1=Archana |title=Interview: Touria El Glaoui, Founder, 1:54, Contemporary African Art Fair |work=Artinfo |date=2015-05-14 |url=http://www.blouinartinfo.com/news/story/1158037/interview-touria-el-glaoui-founder-154-contemporary-african |access-date=2017-01-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160831214051/http://www.blouinartinfo.com/news/story/1158037/interview-touria-el-glaoui-founder-154-contemporary-african |archive-date=2016-08-31 |url-status=live |df=mdy-all }}

{{Cite web |last1=Khare-Ghose |first1=Archana |title=Q&A: Touria El Glaoui/ Founding Director, 1:54 Contemporary African Art Fair |work=Artinfo |date=2016-05-02 |url=http://in.blouinartinfo.com/news/story/1392321/qa-touria-el-glaoui-founding-director-154-contemporary |access-date=2017-01-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160512045347/http://in.blouinartinfo.com/news/story/1392321/qa-touria-el-glaoui-founding-director-154-contemporary |archive-date=May 12, 2016 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }}

{{Cite web |last1=Heddaya |first1=Mostafa |title=1:54 Contemporary Art Fairs Worthy Frieze Week Debut |work=Artinfo |date=2015-05-15 |url=http://www.blouinartinfo.com/news/story/1158985/new-kid-on-the-block-154-contemporary-art-fairs-worthy-frieze |access-date=2017-01-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170512113954/http://www.blouinartinfo.com/news/story/1158985/new-kid-on-the-block-154-contemporary-art-fairs-worthy-frieze |archive-date=2017-05-12 |url-status=live |df=mdy-all }}

{{Cite web |last1=Gbadamosi |first1=Nosmot |title=Your next art purchase will come from Africa |work=CNN |date=2016-10-14 |url=http://www.cnn.com/2016/10/07/arts/african-contemporary-art-fair/index.html |access-date=2017-01-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170101054935/http://www.cnn.com/2016/10/07/arts/african-contemporary-art-fair/index.html |archive-date=2017-01-01 |url-status=live |df=mdy-all }}

{{Cite web |last=Gerlis |first=Melanie |date=October 7, 2016 |title=The Art Market: London hosts Frieze and 1:54 African art fair |work=Financial Times |url=https://www.ft.com/content/9f08e606-8ba7-11e6-8cb7-e7ada1d123b1 |access-date=2017-01-02 |df=mdy-all }}

{{Cite news |last1=Jaggi |first1=Maya |author-link=Maya Jaggi|title=Africa's economic revival boosts art prices |newspaper=Financial Times |date=2015-03-27 |url=https://www.ft.com/content/16d6f366-ceef-11e4-b761-00144feab7de |access-date=2017-01-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170106011757/https://www.ft.com/content/16d6f366-ceef-11e4-b761-00144feab7de |archive-date=2017-01-06 |url-status=live |df=mdy-all }}

{{Cite web |last1=Jaggi |first1=Maya |title=Emerging markets offer original cultural voices |work=Financial Times |date=2016-01-15 |url=https://www.ft.com/content/cd5461fa-b490-11e5-b147-e5e5bba42e51 |access-date=2017-01-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170103165426/https://www.ft.com/content/cd5461fa-b490-11e5-b147-e5e5bba42e51 |archive-date=2017-01-03 |url-status=live |df=mdy-all }}

{{Cite web |last1=Steinhauer |first1=Jillian |title=A Contemporary African Art Fair Arrives in New York |work=Hyperallergic |date=2015-05-14 |url=http://hyperallergic.com/206996/a-contemporary-african-art-fair-arrives-in-new-york/ |access-date=2017-01-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160712152044/http://hyperallergic.com/206996/a-contemporary-african-art-fair-arrives-in-new-york/ |archive-date=2016-07-12 |url-status=live |df=mdy-all }}

{{Cite web |last1=Simoncelli |first1=Silvia |title=La fiera che ha sdoganato l'arte africana a Londra e New York. Touria El Glaoui, figlia d'arte e direttrice di 1:54, parla dei progetti futuri |work={{Lang|it|Il Sole 24 Ore}} |date=2016-08-08 |url=http://www.ilsole24ore.com/art/arteconomy/2016-08-08/la-fiera-che-ha-sdoganato-arte-africana-londra-e-new-yorktouria-el-glaoui-figlia-d-arte-e-direttrice-154-parla-progetti-futuri-164809.shtml?uuid=AbQZbc1N |access-date=2017-01-02 |df=mdy-all }}

{{cite web |url=http://www.okayafrica.com/culture-2/art/154-contemporary-african-art-fair-london |access-date=May 28, 2016 |title=1:54 Contemporary African Art Fair Returns To London With 27 Galleries & 100+ Artists |last1=Klein |first1=Alyssa |date=September 30, 2014 |work=Okay Africa |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304193053/http://www.okayafrica.com/culture-2/art/154-contemporary-african-art-fair-london/ |archive-date=March 4, 2016 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }}

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External links

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Category:2013 establishments in England

Category:2013 in London

Category:2015 in New York City

Category:African contemporary art

Category:Art exhibitions in London

Category:Art exhibitions in the United States

Category:Art fairs

Category:Contemporary art exhibitions

Category:Contemporary art fairs

1-54

History

Reception

References

Further reading

External links