return to worldwidereview.com,
the home of critical reviews
From: Vastly Overpainted Category: Art Date: 17 January 2010 Time: 09:35 AM Review: The interview clearly exposes Chris Ofili's refusal to be influenced by the superficial dictum of the art market and it's merry band of kiss-up, kick-down star fuckers. Yes it is rather galling that he is in the position of knowing first hand the rewards of "success" whilst many languish in the shadows hoping for such accolade but it is a credit to Ofili that he is not such a careerist that he is willing to dilute his output by "responding" to other art or dallying in A level syllabus subject matter such as the likes of Grayson Preyson or Gormley and Thoms. Ofilli remains a potent essential force in Art, the interview had all the shortcomings embedded in the format of popular interviewing. It does have its limitations when being used to attract purchasers to the publication and I think it presented Ofili's case by encapsulating the essential focus on Ofili's methodology without becoming a gospel on technique but I for one will never forget Ofili's Serpentine Show in 1998 and later, all the nonsense he experienced from an indulgent erstwhile Mayor of Newyork who tried to crank up his own moral highground to stir up the war hungry crusaders we see baying for blood today. Blame the medium of "the interview" and then improve it.