Euro Gallery Review. London and it's appropriation of Africa.

Hannah Remi Oghene
Sep 3, 2015
3 min read

In the second post in the European museum and gallery city review it is only right that I review the place that I learned the most about gallery and exhibition administration. Where the culture of city is ever evolving and adapting and where the culture of the gallery in the city either attempts to map or ignores this. This city is none other than London, where I was born and raised. I recently left my hometown and traveled across the pond to the only other city on the planet that has such wealth of culture and art in all of it forms: New York, NY. I started my Master of Arts in Arts Administration in the best city to pursue a career in Arts Management, at Columbia University in the city of New York. So in my nostalgia, I am reliving my recent experiences of London through this Gallery review.

In this review, I discuss the gallery scene through one particular talking point, simply because the scene is too diverse. I will put a spotlight on where in London is showing, representing and correctly propagating Africa. I will also distinguish where the art is not simply appropriatied because it is the going thing or has become trending or popular by highlightling whether we are learning about the artists and the culture. Are we seeing a limited view of the richness of what Africa has to offer in terms of art because of the spotlight that certain galleries are putting on a select number of artists?

I will begin my review with a contemporary art gallery that has had two exhibtions in a series showing African art that set out to bring new artists into the London scene. Saatchi gallery opened Pangaea: New art from Africa and Latin America in 2014 and the follow up exhibition, Pangaea II, ends this week. I was lucky enough to intern during the Pangaea exhibition and research the artists and perform my own tour program to the public.

Vincent Michea in Pangaea I at Saatchi Gallery.

Federico Herrero

Eddy Ilunga Kamuanga

Boris Nzebo

Pangaea II at Saatchi Gallery.

Saatchi Gallery did what it set out to do, it exposed a select number of artists to the British public. Because of this, in every other forum that has been dedicated to African art in London, these same artists have never failed to be a part of the discussion: from Ibrahim Mahama, Aboudia, Leonce Agbodjelou to Vincent Michea (a French national who created art out of Dakar, Senegal). These artists were shown and sold from the roster of other galleries at the 1:54 art fair in London at Somerset House and exhibtions were dedicated to these artists in the Jack Bell Gallery of Mayfair.

An artwork by Aboudia at 1:54 Art Fair 2014.

Jack Bell Gallery: Studio Lumiere // 10 Contemporary Artists living & working in Africa

In the art scene in London, apart from the Jack Bell there are other galleries that have in their mission statement that they plan to exhibit only African art. One of these is the Gallery of African Art in Mayfair which is a staple for seeing some art from Africa in London. Other outlets from Africa that London is embracing is fashion. I will highlight Duro Olowu whose designs match its Mayfair location and seemless tailoring with sleek co-ordination of clashing patterns. The interior of the store is a reflection of the branding and atmospheric propogation. It reflects the vibrancy of Africa in its details.

Other movements in the art scene in London recently have seen new records being made. Zak Ove was the first artist to exhibit at the British Museum in the Great Court. The exhibition is part of the Celebrating Africa exhibition at the Museum that goes on till the 13th September. The sculptures commissioned by the gallery are emblematic and represent something about the culture of the artist: the Trinidadian carnival. The sculptures were made to coincide with the Notting Hill Carival and celebrate African contributions to world carnivals. The British Museum is exhibiting African art but is also propagating the culture behind it with talks and events throughout 2015.

There is definitely a rich representation of Africa across London, and there are many galleries that are putting a spotlight on culture. I have simply named a few to show how the high art end of the London gallery scene have embraced African culture.