It’s been another tough winter with gloomy weather, but luckily, London is packed with things to do – whether that’s exhibitions, events, theatre or music. In this moving commission, Turner Prize-winning British artist Chris Ofili has created a giant artwork across Tate Britain’s Northern Staircase to pay tribute to the victims of the Grenfell Tower fire. The dream-like, brightly-coloured mural gives a special nod to fellow artist Khadija Saye who was killed in the 2017 tragedy.
Eleven rooms of the Tate are dedicated to this visual exploration of the varied materials that artists have used over the decades. Expect to see works such as Doris Salcedo’s famous metal structures, Marcel Duchamp’s toilet seat and Sarah Sze’s installations. This commission reunites two pieces of art created nearly a century apart. The two pieces were created for the same Tate Britain space. One is a mural that was created in the 1920s and painted straight onto the gallery's walls. The second is a film installation that was ordered in reaction to the mural. When seen as a whole, these pieces raise issues regarding our interaction with historical art.
The idea is to open up a conversation about engaging with historical works: “I know there is an argument among young people now that these images retraumatise, but I think we either look or forget,” said Piper. “To keep a clear sense of history we need to see these things. We need to recognise the importance throughout black struggles, the importance of difficult images.”. Quiet, thought-provoking and moving, the exhibition displays 18 large-scale portraits by the Belfast-born artist Colin Davidson. He’s painted individuals who have experienced loss due to The Troubles, Ireland’s 30-year sectarian conflict.
