2019 - 1:54 Contemporary African Art Fair - Marrakech

Readers of this Blog will remember my post from the first
1:54 Contemporary African Art Fair in 2018.

In February I travelled into Marrakech for the day, for this years' fair -
once more held amid the elegance of La Mamounia.

1:54 CAAF appears to be filling the vacuum left by the now defunct Marrakech Biennale,
by offering visitors satellite exhibitions in the many art galleries in the Red City.

​Here I'm sharing what inspired me at La Mamounia -
amongst the African artists represented by 18 international galleries...

D U K E   A S I D E R E

Born 1961 in Lagos, Nigeria. Lives and works in Lagos, Nigeria. Represented by Retro Africa.

M A H I  B I N E B I N E  &  H A S S A N  D A R S I

These collaborative works were made from tar and pigment on aluminium.
​Mahi was born in Marrakech in 1959 and Hassan in Casablanca in 1961. 
​Represented by Katharina Maria Raab.

P I N I A N G

"Power and the City 1 and 2" - Cardboard, acrylic and charcoal collage on wire.
​Born 1976 in Dakar, Senegal where he continues to live and work.
Represented by Louisimone Guirandou Gallery

N ' D O Y E   D O U T S

"Magnetique 01" - Acrylic and pastel on canvas
​Born 1973 in Sangalkam, Senegal. Lives and works in Paris, France.
​Represented by Louisimone Guirandou Gallery.​

M A U R I C E   M B I K A Y I

Unique pieces created from computer keys, fibreglass and resin.
Maurice was born in Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of Congo
​and now lives and works in Cape Town, South Africa
Represented by Officine Dell'Immagine

D I M I T R I   F A G B O H O U N

"Paul - Guillaume, Microcosmos II" - bronze, wood and glass.
​Born 1972 in Cotonou, Benin. Lives and works between Cotonou, Paris and Brussels.
​Represented by Galerie C​écile Fakhoury.

"Arman was NKissi N'kondi" - bronze, wood and glass.

​On the wall behind you can glimpse the mixed media work of Armand Boua, on the left. 
He was born in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire and continues to live and work there.
On the right - a mixed media piece by Yéanzi, also from ​Côte d'Ivoire.
​​Represented by Galerie C​écile Fakhoury.

F A T I H A  Z E M M O U R I

"Suspension" - graphite on drafting film.
At first sight I thought this work was under a layer of encaustic wax medium.
In fact she had reversed the drawing before adhering it to a panel​.
​A soft milky finish was the result, adding to the sense of suspension in space.
​Represented by Katharina Maria Raab.​

Now of course, we must take a stroll around the beautiful La Mamounia...

It's designer boutiques, in-house galleries and tiled courtyards.