Advertisement
Supported by
Gallery 1957, based in Accra, Ghana, and in London, makes its debut at Art Basel Hong Kong.
Reporting from London
The dusting of charcoal still on her hands hinted that the Kenyan British artist Phoebe Boswell had just finished putting the final touches on the trees she had created in the entry hallway of the London outpost of Ghana’s Gallery 1957.
With the show “Constellations, Part 1: Figures on Earth & Beyond” set to open in a few days, Ms. Boswell, who is “extremely” afraid of heights, had spent a week climbing up a ladder to draw the tall, ominous black trees, which served as a backdrop to three of her charcoal and pastel works of art that were being shown in the exhibition.
“It’s a joy to be given a massive wall,” said Ms. Boswell, who is also featured in a show at London’s Dulwich Picture Gallery. “Since I was a kid, I loved drawing on a wall.”
This is the first time Ms. Boswell has collaborated with Gallery 1957, but she said it was a treat to be a part of the group show, which opened on March 14. “I like the idea that a version of this will traverse” to Africa in a second, expanded “Constellations, Part 2” that will open in Accra (the capital of Ghana) in August, she added.
Since its founding eight years ago this month, Gallery 1957 — named after the year the West African country of Ghana gained independence — has become an integral player in the African contemporary art landscape.
That is not only because it has some of Ghana’s — and the continent’s — most exciting contemporary artists on its roster, but also because the gallery has been increasing its presence at global exhibitions and art fairs, including making its debut at Art Basel Hong Kong this week. Its group show there will highlight some of the gallery’s freshest talent — eight artists from across the African continent and its diaspora.
We are having trouble retrieving the article content.
Please enable JavaScript in your browser settings.
Thank you for your patience while we verify access. If you are in Reader mode please exit and log into your Times account, or subscribe for all of The Times.
Thank you for your patience while we verify access.
Already a subscriber? Log in.
Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
Advertisement
About The Author
More Stories
Local Infrastructure, Lower Costs: How Peering Is Moving the Needle on Internet Affordability
On Global Accessibility Awareness Day, An Internet for Everyone Must Include Everyone
An Open Fiber Data Standard to Make the Internet for Everyone