Mirror to African art

With a reflective metallic cover and silver-edged interior pages, the publication 10 x 1-54 spotlights an exciting array of artists from Africa and its diaspora. The book celebrates the tenth anniversary of the first and only international art fair dedicated to contemporary African art, named 1-54 for the 54 countries that comprise the African continent.

What began as a single art fair at London’s Somerset House has grown to three editions a year, in London, New York, Marrakech. There is also a pop-up fair in Paris. 1-54 founding director Touria El Glaoui states that the fair is ‘above all about broadening appreciation for the aesthetic and art historical significance of African modern and contemporary art, too long overlooked or marginalised by art world institutions.’

Launched at this year’s fair, 1-54’s updated brand identity, designed by TM Studio, is reflected in a beautifully bound 400-page publication, printed on Fedrigoni Splendorlux Mirror Argento and Arena papers. London-based TM is well known for its design for the 365 Fedrigoni desk calendar (see Pulp 20), an annual collaborative venture featuring the work of hundreds of designers.