Chris Ofili - artist
Artforum, Sept. 1997, v. 36, no. 1, p. 112
This article is a good introduction to the work of British-Nigerian artist Chris Ofili. He is most well-known for his use of elephant dung on the canvas which has created a "ready-made back-to-Africa-and-into-identity-myth." His work, which uses dots, is inspired by the ancient cave paintings of Zimbabwe and Aboriginal patterning. In his works, beauty meets kitsch in seductive scatterings of glitter, flamboyant patterning and magazine cutouts and he deals with issues of identity, ethnicity and exoticism. Nature collides with culture. According to the author, "Ofili is flip, funny, savage and serious."
The video documentary "The Eye - Chris Ofili" features film footage of his work. Shot in London, Germany and Venice, this film relates the creation of 'within reach' - his artwork for the Venice Biennale, as well as his installation of 13 canvases, 'The Upper Room'.
ITEM 1997.086 – available for viewing in the Research Centre
Videos, Artworks and Artists Cited
The Holy Virgin Mary, 1996 – Chris Ofili
Captain Shit – Chris Ofili
Legend of the Black Stars – Chris Ofili
Captain Fantastic – Chris Ofili
Affrodizzia, 1996 – Chris Ofili
Flower Heads, 1996 – Chris Ofili
Shithead, 1993 – Chris Ofili