Chris Ofili exhibition at the Tate Britain

Afrodizzia

The titles and descriptions of Chris Ofili work was a first seen for me, his exhibition was bright and catchy, unique. It was more than beautiful colours and innovative use of materials, I quickly realized that Chris Ofili was playing with identity, female identity, Afro-Caribbean and Caucasian identity, the difference and the stereotypes.

Space Hit

1995

Acrylic oil, polyester resin,

map pins and elephant dung on linen - I love it!

Some aspect of Cris Ofili's work:

• Collage of faces, black people
• Faces made of elephant dung
• Collage of women faces with sexual expressions
• Faces with added afro hair style
• Nudity
• Picture of women asses and vaginas
• adoration, men-women The adoration of captain shit and the legend of the black stars
• White woman,blond hair blue eyes, showing her breast Foxy Roxy
• Famous black faces Afrodizzia
• Pornographic images Prince amongst thieves
• Red black and green Afro love and unity
• Black woman with a banana in her mouth
• Stephen Laurence tribute

3 Questions:

1. When does expressing identity represent racism?
2. Is Chris Ofili stereotyping his own culture?
3. Do these work represent a black man identity in the 20th century

I come from Switzerland and the integration of other cultures has never been as smooth as in England. In Switzerland it is not cool to be Swiss, the new generation is not at all patriotic and if we dare to be, we will be called racist. why? The same happens in France, when a Moroccan say go Morocco he is cool when a Frenchman says go France he is racist. I think that expressing your identity is never a racist thing, it only depends on the self esteem of the people that listen to you.

I think that Chris Ofili is not only stereotyping his own culture but the other cultures, it is obvious that in many of his paintings he uses Afro-Caribbean stereotypes, such as physical features, but his painting Foxy Roxy where it is a white woman pictured with blond hair and blue eyes, which his also a Caucasian stereotype.

I think his work is definitely representing 20th century art, and it is fresh and appealing. It does represent a black man identity as his work is based on it. Then could this work represent a black woman identity? I think that except some pieces, it could. so I would say that this work represent a black person identity in the 20th century.

I really liked this exhibition and the conversation it provoked. in terms of the aesthetics of his pieces I found them beautiful i loved the dots technique and the shine of many pieces, in the last room the paintings were a feast for the eyes, the colours were amazing.