The Naked Spirit of Captain Shit and the Legend of the Black Stars 2001

Chris Ofili created "The Naked Spirit of Captain Shit and the Legend of the Black Stars" using acrylic, oil, glitter, and, characteristically, elephant dung on linen. This work draws upon a visual vocabulary that challenges conventional representations of black identity. Made in Britain by a British-Nigerian artist, the painting combines elements of popular culture, religious iconography, and Afrofuturism, creating a complex interplay of meanings. The figure itself, outlined in white, seems to float against a backdrop of shimmering stars. The title invites us to consider themes of power, sexuality, and the artist's own cultural heritage. The use of elephant dung, a controversial yet integral part of Ofili’s practice, serves as a deliberate provocation, challenging institutional norms and expectations of ‘high’ art. To understand this work better, one could research the history of black representation in art, the cultural significance of elephant dung in certain African societies, and the debates surrounding multiculturalism in the British art world of the 1990s.