Chris Offili Write Up

Chris Offilis work stems on the idea of whether an individual can begin to appreciate artwork that has been crafted over time and time and time again. These can be seen with much of his work that shows an interesting consideration of working a surface with the sensibility of a workman rather than a painter. This type of direction has given Chris offili much of his claim to fame thus honoring him with a turner prize and meteoric fame. One of the most interesting aspects of his work is the incorporation of cow dung which you can see in many of his early works which he uses as supports for his paintings as well as adorned decoration. This decoration has its benefits because it creates a visual that is exciting and unpredictable. Furthermore the cow dung is a representation of his native country Nigeria which he spent some time in during a stay where he was introduced to the traditions and culture of their living. This stay inspired him greatly and shows a direct linkage between western and eastern culture. Appropriately decided, it can also be seen as a combination of aesthetic values. For some the inclusion of the cow dung is repulsive but for others such as myself I think it is an a brilliant decision on his behalf. Not so much these days do we see such striking unpredictability crafted in a manner that still pays a great homage to the modern masters such as Picasso and Modigliani.