The Upper Room by Chris Ofili

An installation consisting of a specially designed panelled room that Ofili created in collaboration with the architect David Adjaye.

Details

Category:
Religious
Medium:
Canvas with mixed media; walnut veneered plywood; elephant dung supports Dimensions: 1-12) 183.6 x 122.3cm; 13) 244.2 x 183cm
Art Fund grant:
£75,000 ( Total: £600,000)
Acquired in:
2005
Vendor:
Victoria Miro Gallery

Twelve smaller canvases line the two sides with a larger canvas on the end wall. Each canvas depicts a profile of a rhesus macaque monkey in a different colour and named in Spanish on two elephant dung supports. The canvas at the head of the room shows a larger monkey in gold facing forward bringing to mind a beatific Buddha as well as a Christ figure or an alpha male simian. Each canvas is brightly lit as though it were stained glass.

Provenance

Victoria Miro Gallery.

Venue details

Tate Collection

The Tate Collection is on display at Tate Britain, Tate Modern, Tate Liverpool and Tate St Ives.

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