Chris Ofili theEYE The Upper Room 2002

In 2003 Chris Ofili created the spectacular installation within reach for the British Pavilion at the Venice Biennale. Combining a cycle of paintings depicting lovers in a Paradise-like garden with a shimmering glass dome, Ofili plunged visitors into disorienting spaces of dense colour and enveloping light.

Shot in London, Germany and Venice, this film relates the creation of within reach. Chris Ofili's reflections on the process are complemented by interviews with his collaborator in Venice, architect David Adjaye, and the structural engineer from Arup Associates, who helped realise the complex dome.

Also included is an exploration of The Upper Room, an installation of 13 exquisite canvases by Ofili, which was first shown in 2002. Both this and within reach are about "trying to create an atmosphere for people to feel somehow out of themselves." His aim, the artist explains, is to "do something that is sincerely interesting and can honestly enhance the experience of looking."

theEYE is an excellent introduction to contemporary artists and their works and provides an ideal resource for a wide range of audiences, including galleries, museums and colleges, as well as individual art-lover.

Category:

Film & Animation

Tags:

• Chris
• Ofili
• art
• black
• african
• Venice
• Biennale
• Upper
• Room

[quenchedinlife]

He place one piece of dung on that painting as an african symbol of fertility. the womens asses refer to the cherubs that are in many religious images. these asses like the cherubs are plump and float around the virgin mary. so that work really draws on the tradition of religious painting. you cant so easily dismiss the importance of this artist.

[WholeLottaGreer]

If I ever win the lottery....

[alpinorico]

he needs to do a painting of muhammed in dung. it just might start a third world war!

[leomatosuk]

is good to see painters back to the art scene

[TheTeetee98]

I like what your insight, You know I am working on a paper of his work in an Art History class. We put out a call for artists for a gallery show centering around the sublime and abject. would love to chat with you.

[ufolowme]

AMEN!!! I love it - intellectual masterbation - yours is a perfect description of this so called artist and the people who like him. What a bunch of ego maniacs. They all think they are just sooo deep and soooo In- tel-ect-tu-al . But , you are right it is sad to see humans sink so low.

[tiberiousgraccus]

It seems like he progressed as an Artist saw his work 10 yrs ago (and yes it makes a difference to see it live!) but just slightly.Its his technique that amazes me not so much the subject matter..some lovely layering and textures..

[Bibilezoive]

I knew artist could hide emptiness with bizarre now they hide it with the blaspheme and of course a lot of intellectual masturbation. I shouldn't even pay attention to you but it is always sad to see a human going so down

[Sreggaematic09]

let's see...He paints the virgin Mary in shit, with a background of porno? He's an asswipe

[quenchedinlife]

oh, how so? it sounds like you've never even been close to one of his paintings. I think your the talentless wanker.