The Upper Room: Mono Rojo 2002

Chris Ofili’s 'The Upper Room: Mono Rojo’ is made using oil paint and glitter, layered and worked into a shimmering surface. There's a real sense of play at work here, a feeling that the painting almost happened by accident. It reminds me of what I try to achieve in my own work: A conversation between intent and chance. Up close, you can see the way Ofili builds up the surface, these reds and blacks layered, with touches of color peeking through. The texture is so alive, that you can almost feel the physicality of the paint, and the glitter adds this whole other dimension, like a constellation of tiny stars. The whole piece has this slightly psychedelic feel, a bit like a Francis Picabia painting, but with Ofili's own unique blend of color and rhythm. And like any good painting, it leaves you with more questions than answers, which is exactly how it should be.