1-54 London

For this year’s edition of 1-54 Contemporary African Art Fair, Unit London is delighted to present a dual exhibition showcasing new work by Ugandan painter Stacey Gillian Abe in conversation with Bahamian artist Cydne Jasmin Coleby.

Taking as its starting point the artists’ shared interest in the indeterminacy of collective and personal memory, the exhibition invites us to consider how tradition and history resonate across time to shape our contemporary view of the world.

Stacey Gillian Abe draws on early autobiographical experiences in figurative paintings that offer a reassessment of conventional depictions of Black women. Focusing on the concept of shared memory, Abe’s work examines how memories have been passed down through her family’s lineage, alluding to the ways in which traditions are absorbed and transformed from generation to generation. Probing unsettling past and present narratives of identity, gender and spirituality, her works act as a gateway to memory – particularly to notions of sensory memory.

These ideas are found in Abe’s use of the colour indigo, which invokes nostalgic relationships to colour as well as the dye’s role in the slave trade. Indigo’s complex history is imprinted on the Black body, but also referenced through the embroidered threads that the artist hand-weaves through each canvas. Abe explains, “When I think about the way that indigo was significant in facilitating the exchange of Black bodies, I am reminded of the strong bond that we always had with material, colour and dye.” Embroidery and cloth are therefore strong visual elements in her practice, enabling the artist to revisit the traditional, historical and personal significance attached to fabric.

Cydne Jasmin Coleby captivates through her kaleidoscopic artistic expressions, delving into aspects of womanhood and Black identity, intertwined with ancestral memory. Coleby’s devotion to collage mirrors Abe’s profound connection to material and colour, and is reflected in the labour-intensive nature of her practice. Weaving together traditional patterns, family photographs and pop culture elements, she often situates herself amidst components that have contributed to her sense of self. These compositions exude an enchanting rhythm, evoking dream-like qualities as fragile and ephemeral as the materials from which they’re crafted.

A masterful storyteller, Coleby draws from her Caribbean heritage and the craft traditions shaped by generations of women in her intricate assemblages. Mirroring her personal journey, Coleby’s art provides a sanctuary for healing from enduring fractures. Beyond intergenerational trauma, Coleby navigates her connection to womanhood. Seamlessly blending modern viewpoints with ancestral narratives, her works cast a spotlight on matriarchal figures in her family lineage, paying homage to the formidable women who have often been marginalised in historical depictions.

Coleby’s latest series centres on the learned norms of propriety and values that are imposed upon schoolgirls, referencing her upbringing in a former British colony with a strong Christian tradition. Through this lens, she reveals how self-perception is shaped by religious dogma and colonial educational systems, which emphasise conformity to set standards. The works shown stem from graduation ceremonies at church-affiliated private schools in Nassau – a shared experience for many, including the artist.

Both artists explore the nuances of memory and personal stories, set within the longer context of cultural heritage that is passed down through generations. Borrowing from traditional aesthetic strategies, they simultaneously celebrate and reimagine their diasporic and familial histories, redefining the portrayal of Black femininity as a way of reconnecting with the women in their communities.

The 1-54 art fair is held at Somerset House and runs from 12 – 15 October 2023. Unit London will hold their presentation at Booth S02, located in the South Wing.