The Upper Room: Mono Marron 2002

Chris Ofili made this painting, Mono Marron, with loose brushstrokes, vibrant colour, and dense, dark figures. It feels like the painting came into being, shifting and emerging through experimentation, mistake, and intuition. I can almost feel Ofili in the process of making this work. What was he thinking when he put brush to canvas? The paint is laid on thick, creating texture that shapes our experience of the painting. Look at the dark curvilinear marks and how they communicate feeling, intention, or meaning. This piece connects to Ofili's wider practice as well as the work of other painters. Artists are always in conversation and exchange ideas across time, inspiring each other’s creativity. Painting is a form of embodied expression, allowing for multiple interpretations and meanings, never fixed.