Chris Ofili – Nigerian born Manchester based artist at Tate Britain

Afrodizza(second version) 1996
Acrylic, Oil, Polyester Resin, Paper Collage, Glitter, Map Pins and elephant Dung on Linen
243.8×182.8
Courtesy Victoria Miro Gallery London

New year’s resolution – get out and see more art shows(beats all that gym nonsense and spending less) so I’m starting with this one. An RCA graduate, Ofili established his name through exhbitions at Charles Saatchi Gallery in North London and has also had numerous solo shows during the nineties including the Serpentine Gallery. In 1998 he won the Turner prize and was selected to represent Britain at the Venice Biennale last year. He is counted as one of the UK’s top artists. 

Ok so that’s the serious art stuff out of the way but why should you really go to see the show and how can you relate to it? Ofili draws on many contemporary insiprations as well as primitve cave paintings. Themes referenced in his work include blaxploitation films and gangsta rap which he uses to question racial and sexual stereotypes in a humorous way. Lyrical content is very important in his work and he regularly uses hip-hop titles in his work e.g Pimpin Ain’t Easy by Big Daddy Kane.

He also has a personal top ten most influential tracks so if you feel like having an art inspired playlist download the following(maybe you can download and use it as your the Theme tune to your gallery visit – now there’s an idea Tate Britain): 

1. Notorious BIG – 10 crack commandments
2. Common – Heaven somewhere
3. Method Mad – Bring the pain
4. Public Enemy – Public Enemy number 1
5. Erykah Badu – The Healer
6. Snoop Dogg – Gin & Juice
7. Wu Tang Clan – C.R.E.A.M
8. Jay-Z  – Blueprint
9. A Tribe called Quest – The low end theory
10. The Roots – Clones
11. NAS – Illamtic
12. Mos Def  – Black on both sides
13. Talib Kweli – Reflection eternal
14. Dizzee Rascal – Jezebel

 

Personally I just love the energy exhibited in his work. There are elements of Pollock and elements of high-school doodles in the painting above but the energy is more controlled and the meaning more tangible. The patterns also provide plenty of fashion inspiration(we regularly look to art to inspire what we do) and tie in with the whole 90’s hip-hop/tribal look that’s trending strong at the moment. 

Pictures and internet don’t do his work justice so go out and see it yourself. Nothing puts a Spring in your step like a great art show(or a pair of oldschool Reebok pumps). 

The show runs 27th of January to 10th of May, special £5 concession for those under 26. Even better catch it late at Tate on the 5th of Feb for a whole evening of entertainment including a fashion show and you can even have a few beers too! We’re going. Hope to see you there.

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