Paris, France — Colorful street art, eye-catching photography, intriguing woven works, performance art and more all emanating from the African continent and diaspora came together during one of the most intriguing of the art shows held last October in Paris, a month traditionally devoted to the arts with fairs, special events and exhibitions. AKAA, or the Also Known as Africa Art and Design Fair was held for the eighth time hosting some 36 international galleries and 100 artists working in myriad mediums, attracting some 15,000 visitors — both general pubic at large and collectors. The groundbreaking art show is typically dedicated to contemporary artists and designers of the African continent, and this year’s show was turned to the Americas, featuring a number of African-American artists with the announcement that the show is slated to be held in Los Angeles for the very first time in May of 2024 and the 9th show, from October 18th until October 20th, in Paris. 

Held in the light-filled Carreau du Temple space in the Marais neighborhood of Paris, works were exhibited throughout the venue’s vast exhibition spaces while encounters, conferences and projections, performances and readings rounded out the agenda. For this year the Les Rencontres AKAA invited the public to meet with artists, curators, art critics and art lovers whose work and initiatives support the development of art from Africa and beyond. It was held for the first time this year and with free entry in the auditorium of the Carreau du Temple. 

Highlights of the fair included an installation work entitled Limin/en by Jamaican-born artist Cosmo Whyte who presented walls of his hand-painted steel beads allowing the visitors to walk into and immerse themselves in his works which often feature large scale drawings and figures adorned with gold leaf and black glitter defying their colonial past by tearing it from their bodies through unbridled dance. Noteworthy as well was JR. The Moroccan-born artist creates incredibly eye-catching pieces using mainly car tires and he had a solo exhibition featuring his intricate lace-like works this year at AKAA which attracted well-deserved attention.  

Meanwhile Ras Sankara, a Togolese self-taught artist, gave a performance using earth from around the world dedicated to all of the world’s oppressed peoples. He works in several different mediums — photography, video and performance. This was his first show in France held within the context of the ellipseartprojects and as the winner of the third ellipse Prize for contemporary Art dedicated to emerging artists from Togo. He presented works on the theme of Dreamy Memories. For the artist it is essential to « kill fear, resurrect outrage with optimism, through photography, installation and performance. » The show also offers a setting and showcase for artists who are unable to leave their countries of origin due to political or geo-political constraints to exhibit their works to an avid outside world. https://akaafair.com/en/ ©Trish Valicenti for The Gourmet Gazette