Out of Africa
Ibrahim el-Salahi is finally being recognised as one of the great artists of the twentieth century
At long last, galleries and collectors are beginning to recognise the modernist painters of Africa. Central London now has three contemporary African art galleries and last year Ghanaian sculptor El Anatsui was awarded the Royal Academy’s Charles Wollaston award. Even more significant was the Tate Modern’s first major retrospective of an African artist, Sudanese painter Ibrahim el-Salahi. The son of an islamic teacher, Salahi won a scholarship to the Slade in the 1950s before returning to his native country to take up the position of Sudan minister for culture. In 1975 he was imprisoned for six months without trial for anti-government activity.
Arriving in London, he gleefully soaked up Western painting’s modern greats. The exaggerated features of Picasso are evident in his early self-portraits and Cézanne can be seen in later works, but he never lost sight of where he’s from. His ongoing Tree project is a tribute to the haraz tree, found along the banks of the Nile. The project, which will be displayed next month at Vigo gallery, is an excellent showcase of Salahi’s keen eye for colour and form.
The Tree by Ibrahim el-Salahi opens 4 July at Vigo Gallery