The eighth edition of 1-54 Contemporary African Art Fair London will be accompanied by 1-54 Forum, This year the fair’s extensive talks programme will feature artists, curators, art historians and cultural producers from Latin America, the Caribbean, Africa and the global Diaspora.

This year, 1-54 Forum has been curated by Julia Grosse and Yvette Mutumba, founders and editors-in-chief of Contemporary And (C&) and Contemporary And América Latina (C&AL) and takes place under the title, “I felt like a Black guy from New York trapped in Peru.” Over three afternoons, 1-54 Forum will be engaging with creative Afro-Latin American, Caribbean and African perspectives. 1-54 Forum will be asking questions such as, why is it important to bring together and discuss shared histories and experiences as well as the differences? How can cultural production be generated around these issues? What impact has visibility, or rather invisibility, had on Afro-Latin American creatives and their work within their respective scenes? How have the art scenes in the Caribbean positioned themselves within the growing “hype” around their historical and recent artistic production?

The full curatorial statement can be read here

Please note, all talks are Zoom webinars and need to be registered for.

Thursday, 8 October, 17:00 – 18:00
Keynote: What is ‘Latinx’?

The term “Latinx” is an update of traditional labels such as “Hispanic” or “Latin” which emerged around the mid-twentieth century to describe Latin American migrant communities in the US. ALDEIDE DELGADO (Independent Latinx Curator and Founding Director of Women Photographers International Archive) talks about the implications and opportunities of the new expression.

Register Here

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Saturday, 10 October,

12:00 – 13:00
Representation Beyond Representation

In this current moment that sees a rise of interest in Europe and North America towards Caribbean art scenes and art histories the panel asks questions around who is represented by who, where and how? What does this rising attention mean? How or does this even affect cultural producers from the Caribbean and its Diaspora?

Speakers include CARYL IVRISSE CROCHEMAR (Founding Director of espace d’art contemporain 14N 61W), ALBERTA WHITTLE (Artist), RHEA STORR (Artist) and moderator MAGNUS ELIAS ROSENGARTEN (Writer and artist).

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1-54 Forum participating artist Enorê, Untitled self-arrangement (Detail), triptych, 1/3, digital image. Courtesy of the artist.

14:00 – 15:00
Modes of Resistance

What role does or should play contemporary art in moments like these? On a political, personal, global scale? Why is it crucial? Or isn’t it? What role play important notions of solidarity and self-care? This panel invites artists and academics to discuss current urgencies and strategies in the context of the Brazilian art scenes. This includes academic and artistic perspectives.

Speakers include ROSANA PAULINO (Artist, educator and curator), LUCIANE RAMOS SILVA (Dancer, independent curator, choreographer and anthropologist), ENORÊ (Artist) and moderated by RAQUEL VILLAR-PÉREZ (Assistant Curator at Photoworks and researcher).

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16:00 – 17:00
Global Connections

What are the shared histories, narratives and experiences, what are the differences that define the connections between Afro-Latin America, The Caribbean and Africa? How, if it all, does this affect cultural producers finding themselves in a creative state of flux?

Speakers include KOFFI MENSAH (Artist), EVAN IFEKOYA (Artist) and moderated by JULIA GROSSE and YVETTE MUTUMBA (Founding editors of Contemporary & and Contemporary América Latina).

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Gaby Messina, “Daisy” Margarita, video still 2.56 min (2017) Argentina Afro. Courtesy of the artist.

Sunday, 11 October

14:00 – 15:00
A View from the Other Side of Things

Listen in English or Spanish

Many of the inequalities inherited from slavery in Colombia still remain, having an impact on different levels of society. This panel brings together cultural producers from afro-Colombian perspectives to discuss the notions of inequality and invisibility in the context of Colombia’s creative/art sector.

Speakers include RAMIRO CAMELO (Curator at Myymälä2), NICOLÁS VIZCAÍNO SÁNCHEZ (Artist), CARMENZA BANGUERA (Artist) and moderated by WILL FURTADO (Artist, writer and deputy editor at Contemporary And). Interpretation to/from Spanish by MARIA BARRERA.

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16:00 – 17:00
Relationship Status: It’s Complicated

Listen in English or Spanish

The profound distortions related to African legacy in Argentina, Mexico and Peru are still far from being part of a mainstream narrative. The historical, institutional and personal difficulties in examining African identity in Argentina, Mexico and Perus are also becoming more and more relevant for various cultural producers using artistic activism as a tool for raising awareness.

Speakers include GABY MESSINA (Artist), KORAL CARBALLO (Photographer), ENTES (Artist) moderated by GABRIELA SALGADO (Curator). Interpretation to/from Spanish by MARIA BARRERA.

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1-54.com

*Quote from Afro-Peruvian graffiti artist Entes