WHAT? Chris Ofili - The Seven Deadly Sins 

WHERE? Victoria Miro, 17 Wharf Road, London N1 7RW

WHEN? Now until 29th July.  Free to visit 

WHY GO ?

To revel in sin!  It’s a powerful subject to tackle, but how gloriously it is translated by Ofili, who was raised a Roman Catholic.  Born in Manchester, Ofili lives and works in Trinidad now.  He has translated the island’s rich colours into a universally dark biblical subject that has captivated artists since time immemorial.  Everyone from Lucas Cranach, William Blake and even Andy Warhol have painted their versions of sin.

Each of the Seven Deadly Sins, from pride and greed to lust and gluttony morph together in Ofili’s intriguing mythical interpretations with devils and demons popping up through the exotic foliage of a fertile Garden of Eden.

All seven giant paintings are open to contemplate any which way, for each one represents his meditation on the collective subject.  

“It felt like the right subject for the time and for these times”, says Ofili who surprisingly brings so much beauty to the subject of sin.

IN THE KNOW 

In addition to the exhibition, seven writers invited by Ofili expand upon Seven Deadly Sins in verse and narrative and the resulting book of meditative thoughts include this from Nigerian writer Inua Ellams, ‘Greed, like lust and gluttony, is a sin of desire. However this desire is to acquire more than one needs’.  A mantra to reflect upon today!