The Upper Room: Mono Blanco 2002

Chris Ofili created this piece, titled "The Upper Room: Mono Blanco", with an intricate layering of paint and resin. In it, we see how the artist, who emerged in 1990s Britain, engages with and subverts institutional expectations. Ofili is perhaps best known for incorporating elephant dung into his colorful paintings, challenging notions of high and low art. In the context of British art institutions at the time, this was a daring move. It compelled viewers to confront uncomfortable truths about the art world’s ingrained elitism. By using materials associated with Africa, he references his own Nigerian heritage while critiquing the Western gaze. To understand the painting's full impact, we can consult exhibition reviews, artist interviews, and scholarly articles that discuss the cultural and social context in which Ofili's work emerged. The meaning of art isn't fixed; it evolves with the changing perspectives of society and its institutions.