To Take and to Give 2012

Here we see Chris Ofili's figures rendered in watercolor, their bodies interlocking in a vibrant composition. Note the recurring symbol of the female form, a motif deeply rooted in art history. The female figure has served as a vessel for meaning, embodying notions of fertility, beauty, and the sublime. Consider how the Venus of Willendorf, dating back millennia, shares an echo with these forms. The Venus, a Paleolithic sculpture, may have been a fertility figure, but the artist’s interpretation transforms and expands upon it, infusing these new forms with layers of personal and cultural narrative. This isn't merely a depiction of a female body; it’s a complex layering of historical, cultural, and psychological interpretations. It is a powerful force, engaging viewers on a subconscious level. This motif’s persistence illustrates the human psyche's enduring fascination with it, and how this symbol cyclically progresses, resurfaces, and takes on new meanings in differing historical contexts.