Chris Ofili
R.I.P. Stephen Lawrence 1974 - 1993 (2013)
Edition of 100
Lithographic print in 4 colours with silkscreened glow-in-the-dark text. Produced by Pauper's Press and K2.
45 x 35.6 cm (17.7 x 14 in)
Accompanied by a numbered certificate of authenticity signed by the artist.
£600.00
In 'R.I.P. Stephen Lawrence 1974 - 1993', Ofili re-visits his iconic artwork, 'No Woman, No Cry' (1998) - the artist's tribute to the murdered South London teenager. Using a photographic image of the largely unseen phosphorescent layer of Ofili's 1993 painting as a starting point, the viscous ground, layers of textured detail and shadowy female silhouette have been lithographically printed and the calligraphic text of the work's title is picked out in a layer of silk-screened phosphorescent ink.
Ofili states: "The vicious murder of Stephen Lawrence in 1993 and the pain and suffering of Doreen Lawrence and her family has had a dramatic effect on British life. The painting 'No Woman, No Cry', the image of the weeping woman, has always been my way to bring to the surface a sense of sorrow and loss. The painting also has another layer where the text, 'R.I.P. Stephen Lawrence 1974 - 1993', is spelled out but is only visible when viewing the painting in lowlight to signify an everlasting life. The recent conviction of two of the murderers was a bittersweet relief but the struggle with institutional racism in British life, highlighted in the Macpherson report, still continues."
All profits from the sales of this edition will go directly to the Stephen Lawrence Charitable Trust as part of the SL20 Campaign, which marks the 20th anniversary of Stephen's death and celebrates his life and legacy.
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