1:54 Contemporary African Art Fair 2018 - Marrakech

The Marrakech Biennale was meant to happen again this year - 2018 - but was cancelled due to the withdrawal of its sponsorship.
​Cue - 1:54 CAAF - the Contemporary African Art Fair -
held annually in London, New York and for the first time, Marrakech. Displaying their art in the beautiful and famous La Mamounia, were seventeen international galleries representing over 60 artists. A very relaxed atmosphere, great conversations with enthusiastic and informed gallery directors and the art, well, that was pretty good too! Here's a little of what took my fancy -
AND of course, feel free to google any of the artists if your inspired to follow a creative thread!
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Ibrahim el-Salahi

photo of Ibrahin el-Salahi by David Levene for the Guardian

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Still working at the age of 88, this Sudanese artist painter, former politician and diplomat is one of the artists installed in MoMA's fifth-floor galleries whose work bears the wall text: “This work is by an artist from a nation whose citizens are being denied entry into the United States, according to a presidential executive order issued on Jan. 27, 2017. This is one of several such artworks from the Museum’s collection installed here to affirm the ideals of welcome and freedom as vital to this Museum as they are to the United States.” 
​Ibrahin el-Salahi was also the first African artist to have a retrospective at the Tate Modern in London. Vigo Gallery was his representative at the Fair and I had a delightful conversation with their young curator in front of Ibrahim's ink drawings. I assured her I couldn't afford the $50,000 price tag, but still she was keen to show me examples of his work and happily let me photograph the drawings I liked - here they are - Indian ink and gum arabic - gorgeous. 

Horse and Rider - 1970

​1964

1977

​Kyle Meyer

I've seen many fibre/textile works over the years; starting in the 1960's and 70's when women were boldly and creatively proclaiming their Truth using the so-called "gentle arts" as their medium of self expression. This work was largely ignored by major galleries - and was given the new name of "craft". Of course, if a man produces a woven artwork, a knitted wall hanging, a knotted rug or a patchwork quilt - it suddenly and easily slips onto a gallery wall as "fine art". Am I bitter? You bet!
Kyle Meyer (above), Abdoulaye Konaté and Joël Andrianomearisoa (below) have created some beautiful work but I can't help but view them through my Woman's Eye.  

​Abdoulaye Konaté

Man Wall Hanging (my title)

Joël Andrianomearisoa

Labyrinth of Passions (the Green Process) 2017

​Nu Barreto

Always exciting to view an artist's portfolio - here the representative of Louisimone Guirandou Gallery takes us through Nù's surprising red pencil drawings - this artist is from Guinea-Bissau, born in 1966, now lives and works in Paris.

​Ouattara Watts

A very interesting watercolour and I really liked the pairing with the mauve suede bag.
Then the owner of the bag turned up - in a fabulous crocheted dress!

​Moshekwa Langa

A blue detail from this South African artist who now lives and works in Paris.

and one more from
​Ibrahim el-Salahi