Chris Ofili

Chris Ofili is a British artist of African descent, who is known for his unique painting style of layering different mediums to create a collage feel.  Most specifically, Ofili is known for using elephant dung as a medium in his paintings, which is a traditional ritual significance to Africa.  Much of the subject matter of Ofili’s paintings have a comical take on blaxploitation films and rappers, in order to questions racial and sexual stereotypes, as well as his own takes on Biblical scenes. Ofili’s work surfaced mainly in the 1990s; however, it was not always appreciated. The ways in which he chose to depict certain scenes were so profound that he saw his paintings attempting to be censored or band. In many cases, Ofili’s attention to detail and understanding of mixed media is under appreciated because of his profound messages. Ofili does not only create works that comment on racism and other forms of discrimination, but he deals with the subject of racism and discrimination himself.

No Woman No Cry

1998

painting & collage, mixed media

H: 95.98 in x W: 71.97 in

Chris Ofili never failed to send  a message with his paintings. The unique thing about his work, No Woman No Cry, is that it was not his personal message dealing with racism that he wanted to convey, but rather tell a story about the effects of racism. This painting depicts a black woman with tears streaming down her face, and within those tears are images of Stephen Lawrence, the victim of a murder that was failed to be investigated.  The reasons behind the fail of the investigation was proven to be purely racist. Ofili continues to use mixed media and elephant dung to add to the powerful message behind this painting. The emotion behind this women, who is believed to be Lawrence’s mother, is horrifying in the most beautiful of ways. Ofili truly shows the meaning behind each tear, almost as if to reflect her thoughts.

The Holy Virgin Mary

1996

painting & collage, mixed media

H: 8 ft. x W: 6 ft

Ofili’s work of the Virgin Mary depicts a black woman wearing a blue robe, which is a main characteristic of the Virgin Mary. He used many mixed media including paint, glitter, resin, elephant dung, and pornographic images in order to collage together a painting of his very own Virgin Mary. Unfortunately, the work has much controversy behind the imagery and the media used. Claims were made that the painting was sick, and Ofili saw himself in the midst of a lawsuit, protesting the work’s display in the Brooklyn Museum as part of his Sensation exhibit. Although the media used to create this depiction is a bit controversial, the same media can be seen as powerful, idealistic, and beautiful. He is using the elephant dung that is not only appreciated, but upheld by his country, and female genitalia in order to add to what the Virgin Mary represented. This censorship against his artwork is powered by racism for his African descent, and years later the beauty of this painting can finally be appreciated.

The Adoration of Captain Shit and the Legend of the Black Stars

1998

painting, mixed media

H: 96 x W: 72 inches

This work is part of a series that Ofili created, which has influence from how African Americans were depicted in American pop culture. The subject matter is a black superhero made from magazine cutouts, paint, and elephant dung. The character, Captain Shit, ignores the white hands that seem to be reaching out to him, and looks onward with a fiery gaze. Everything in the painting is see through, as to add the symbolism of the stereotypes against African Americans. Although this work was not as controversial, it comments on the racism against blacks in pop culture, not just when the Black Diaspora begun, but also in modern times.