Chris Ofili: Joyful Sorrow
Chris Ofili: Joyful Sorrow
Book
Joyful Sorrow is a two-site exhibition by acclaimed British painter Chris Ofili, featuring new paintings at David Zwirner Paris and works on paper at Victoria Miro Venice. These pieces continue Ofili’s exploration of Shakespeare’s Othello.
At Victoria Miro, Othello — Reflection presents watercolours created in Venice, where Ofili uses shifting colours and forms to reflect Othello’s complex interiority. Each piece, inscribed with “Othello” at the base, features interwoven figures, symbolizing empathy, transformation, and introspection.
In Othello — Shroud at David Zwirner, Paris, Ofili’s large, textured paintings are framed in carved, charred wooden shutters, inviting moments of reflection and revelation that blur the lines between inner and outer selves.
The book’s design echoes these themes. Its cover material, a paper made from sheep wool residue, evokes Othello’s portrayal as an outsider: both human and beast. A distinctive jacket construction and the use of black thread and dark paper create a moody atmosphere, counterbalanced by ethereal, dream-like bible paper, adding depth and dimension.
Contributors: Jason Allen-Paisant
2024
