March 23rd - 25th March, 2023 | Hong Kong
Art Basel Hong Kong, will welcome a new participant this year: Retro Africa, a contemporary art gallery based in Abuja, Nigeria. This will be the gallery's first appearance at the prestigious fair, where it will present a solo show by Nigerian-American artist Victor Ehikhamenor.
Ehikhamenor is a multidisciplinary artist who works with painting, photography, sculpture, and installation. His practice is informed by his dual cultural identity and his exploration of history, memory, and spirituality. For his exhibition at Art Basel Hong Kong, titled 'Always At the Edge', he will showcase a series of large tapestries made with rosary beads and crosses. These works reflect on the impact of colonialism and Christianity on African cultures and traditions, as well as the resilience and resistance of African people.
Retro Africa Director & Curator, Dolly Kola-Balogun, established the gallery in 2015 as a platform to support emerging and established contemporary artists from Africa and its diaspora. Her vision is to highlight the depth and breadth of African art within Nigeria and on the international scene.
Retro Africa is not the only African presence at Art Basel Hong Kong this year–. The fair will also feature works by other African artists such as Ibrahim Mahama (Ghana), Njideka Akunyili Crosby (Nigeria), Otobong Nkanga (Nigeria), and William Kentridge (South Africa), among others. These artists are represented by galleries from different regions such as Asia, Europe, and America. The inclusion of more African voices at Art Basel Hong Kong reflects the growing recognition and appreciation of African art in the global market.
Retro Africa's booth is located at section 1C40 of Art Basel Hong Kong, 2023. The fair will run from March 23 to March 25 at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre.
