Iscariot Blues 2006

Chris Ofili made Iscariot Blues using pencil on paper. This choice of humble materials speaks volumes when we consider the potent imagery on display. The monochromatic palette allows the texture of the paper to come forward, its gentle graininess contrasting with the brutal scene. The artist is drawing on centuries of traditions, depicting an act of public execution, in the same medium that children use to learn to draw. Ofili’s masterful use of this simple medium, particularly in the rendering of the figures, allows for an exploration of light and shadow that imbues the scene with a sense of both drama and intimacy. The artist is deliberately challenging our preconceptions about what constitutes "high" art, repurposing accessible materials to address complex and difficult subject matter. This tension between material and subject matter is key to understanding the artwork's full power.