The prices of artists from the continent and the diaspora have increased by up to 200%. In London Kara Walker protagonist at the Tate, inauguration of the first branch of Goodman Gallery and the proposals of the 1:54 fair. Sotheby's auction coming soon while Lorenzelli Arte inaugurates Serge Attukwei Clottey's exhibition in Milan
The Fair 1:54. Another opportunity to discover contemporary African art was the fair, again in London from 3 to 6 October 1:54 , now in its seventh edition, with 45 galleries exhibiting works by 140 African artists starting from 1,000 up to 125,000 pounds for a work by Yinka Shonibare, of which the gallery owner James Cohan immediately sold, on the first day, works worth 16,000 and $85,000. Other gallery owners were also satisfied with sold out, for example Smith by Cape Town, while Vigo Gallery in London sold for 56 small drawings by Ibrahim El-Salahi which the ninety-year-old artist created as an antidote to his back pain, as well as several of his canvases. The fair, visited by 18,000 people, is certainly a place to discover a little-known scene and new names, even if it remains very much characterized by a prevailing aesthetic – linked to the use of recycled materials, fabric, as well as photographic portrait -, which makes it rather similar from edition to edition.
"Since we started the fair we have seen an enormous growth in interest in African art from museums and individuals" he declared to Arteconomy24Touria El Glaoui, founder and director of the fair. “Artists have greater visibility at an institutional level and this is reflected in their prices which in some cases have increased by 200%. It must be said, however, that they started from very low levels, so it was a market adjustment to correct values. It wasn't a sudden growth, but it was deserved." Some examples in this sense are JP Mika from Congo, famous for his portraits on colorful and floral backgrounds, or Moffat Takadiwa from Zimbabwe, who uses waste materials such as keyboards of computers (in Italy he exhibited Primo Marella two years ago). "Not only. In addition to the fair, the new values were also confirmed on the secondary market – adds Touria El Glaoui -, further recognition of the significance of these artists”. Other names now growing that the director of the fair suggests are Louisa Marajo (from Martinique, some her small abstract paintings are on sale on Artsper for figures between 500 and 2,000 euros), Godfried Donkor (Ghanaian artist who lives in London and explores the history of relations between Africa and Europe) and Chourouk Hriech (Moroccan, creates drawings of surreal places in black and white).
La fiera 1:54. Un’altra occasione per scoprire l’arte contemporanea africana è stata, sempre a Londra dal 3 al 6 ottobre, la fiera 1:54 , giunta alla settima edizione, con 45 gallerie che esponevano opere di 140 artisti africani a partire da 1.000 fino a 125.000 sterline per un’opera di Yinka Shonibare, di cui il gallerista James Cohan ha subito venduto, il primo giorno, opere da 16.000 e 85.000 dollari. Anche altri galleristi sono rimasti soddisfatti registrando il tutto esaurito, per esempio Smith di Città del Capo, mentre Vigo Gallery di Londra ha venduto per 56 piccoli disegni di Ibrahim El-Salahi che l’artista novantenne realizza come antidoto contro il suo mal di schiena, oltre a diverse sue tele. La fiera, visitata da 18.000 persone, è certamente un luogo di scoperta di una scena poco nota e di nomi nuovi, anche se rimane molto caratterizzata da un’estetica prevalente – legata all’uso di materiali di recupero, al tessuto, così come al ritratto fotografico -, che la rende piuttosto simile di edizione in edizione.
“Da quando abbiamo iniziato la fiera abbiamo visto un’enorme crescita dell’interesse per l’arte africana da parte di musei e privati” ha dichiarato ad Arteconomy24 Touria El Glaoui, fondatrice e direttrice della fiera. “Gli artisti hanno maggiore visibilità a livello istituzionale e ciò si riflette sui loro prezzi che in alcuni casi sono cresciuti del 200%. C’è da dire, però, che partivano da livelli molto bassi, per cui si è trattato di un aggiustamento del mercato su valori corretti. Non è stata una crescita improvvisa, ma meritata”. Alcuni esempi in questo senso sono JP Mika dal Congo, famoso per i suoi ritratti su sfondi colorati e floreali, o Moffat Takadiwa dallo Zimbabwe, che usa materiali di scarto come le tastiere dei computer (in Italia lo ha esposto Primo Marella due anni fa). “Non solo. Oltre che in fiera, anche sul mercato secondario sono stati confermati i nuovi valori – aggiunge Touria El Glaoui -, ulteriore riconoscimento del significato di questi artisti”. Altri nomi ora in crescita che la direttrice della fiera suggerisce sono Louisa Marajo (dalla Martinique, alcuni suoi piccoli dipinti astratti sono in vendita su Artsper a cifre tra 500 e 2.000 euro), Godfried Donkor (artista ghanese che vive a Londra che esplora la storia delle relazioni tra Africa e Europa) e Chourouk Hriech (marocchina, realizza disegni di luoghi surreali in bianco e nero).
The Fair 1:54. Another opportunity to discover contemporary African art was the fair, again in London from 3 to 6 October 1:54 , now in its seventh edition, with 45 galleries exhibiting works by 140 African artists starting from 1,000 up to 125,000 pounds for a work by Yinka Shonibare, of which the gallery owner James Cohan immediately sold, on the first day, works worth 16,000 and $85,000. Other gallery owners were also satisfied with sold out, for example Smith by Cape Town, while Vigo Gallery in London sold for 56 small drawings by Ibrahim El-Salahi which the ninety-year-old artist created as an antidote to his back pain, as well as several of his canvases. The fair, visited by 18,000 people, is certainly a place to discover a little-known scene and new names, even if it remains very much characterized by a prevailing aesthetic – linked to the use of recycled materials, fabric, as well as photographic portrait -, which makes it rather similar from edition to edition.
"Since we started the fair we have seen an enormous growth in interest in African art from museums and individuals" he declared to Arteconomy24Touria El Glaoui, founder and director of the fair. “Artists have greater visibility at an institutional level and this is reflected in their prices which in some cases have increased by 200%. It must be said, however, that they started from very low levels, so it was a market adjustment to correct values. It wasn't a sudden growth, but it was deserved." Some examples in this sense are JP Mika from Congo, famous for his portraits on colorful and floral backgrounds, or Moffat Takadiwa strong> from Zimbabwe, who uses waste materials such as keyboards of computers (in Italy he exhibited Primo Marella two years ago). "Not only. In addition to the fair, the new values were also confirmed on the secondary market – adds Touria El Glaoui -, further recognition of the significance of these artists”. Other names now growing that the director of the fair suggests are Louisa Marajo (from Martinique, some her small abstract paintings are on sale on Artsper for figures between 500 and 2,000 euros), Godfried Donkor (Ghanaian artist who lives in London and explores the history of relations between Africa and Europe) and Chourouk Hriech (Moroccan, creates drawings of surreal places in black and white).
