Incorporating the wry, dead-pan humor so often seen in his work, Chris Ofili presents a squatting figure, defecating unceremoniously on the ground, in 'Half Moon (Silver)'. Cast in nickel, this sculpture presents Ofili's dynamic approach to sculptural forms, while parodying the viewer's interpretation of 'high art'. 'Half Moon (Silver)' is exactly that, a figure mooning the audience with his shiny buttocks as his bodily functions become the artistic medium and subject of Ofili's work.

Part of the Young British Artists, Chris Ofili (B. 1968) is known for his controversial yet thought provoking work which speaks to racial stereotypes, sexual themes, political controversies, and popular culture. Drawing upon diverse sources of inspiration and inventive media such as glitter, resin, map pins, and elephant dung, Ofili creates colorful compositions filled with a complex matrix of themes and symbolism. While alluding to his African heritage, he investigates blaxploitation and challenges sacred or religious rituals through parodies, dead-pan humor, and deliberate misquotations. A recipient of the Turner Prize in 1998, the artist also represented Britain at the Venice Biennale in 2003. He has exhibited at numerous institutions the world over including the Museum of Contemporary Art (Los Angeles, CA), Museum of Modern Art (New York, NY), Mori Art Museum (Tokyo, JP), and Tate Gallery (London, UK), among others.

PUBLIC AND PRIVATE COLLECTIONS
Museum of Modern Art, New York, NY
Museum of Contemporary Art Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA
San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, San Francisco, CA
The Saatchi Collection, London, England
British Museum, London, England
Tate Gallery, London, England
Victoria and Albert Museum, London, England