Malick Sidibé, the late, revered Malian photographer, received his first major UK solo show, which opened at Somerset House in London during the 1:54 Contemporary African Art Fair, October 6 through 9. The show, which was jointly organized with Galerie Magnin-A of Paris and will stay open through January 15, is “a particular highlight” of this year’s fair, says director Touria El Glaoui. “Sidibé was a pivotal figure in African art in the 1960s and 1970s and remains an enduring influence on photographers today.”1:54, which coincides with Frieze London, is also the “biggest and most varied yet,” adds El Glaoui. It features work from 40 galleries — up from 17 at its inaugural event in 2013 — and more than 110 artists from Africa and its diaspora, including Driss Ouadahi, Gideon Mendel, and Derrick Adams. “Strong themes will include textiles, recycled materials, and North African art,” El Glaoui says, but given the emphasis on Sidibé, solo booths from young photographers like Namsa Leuba and Em’kal Eyongakpa may well get extra exposure.
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