Postcard relating to an individual
Published by: Tate Britain
Unpaginated.

Postcard pack of thirteen of Chris Ofili’s paintings, that comprised his collaboration with David Adjaye, The Upper Room, offered for sale as part of the merchandise relating to the Chris Ofili exhibition at Tate Britain, 27 January - 16 May 2010. The postcards came in a custom-made rigid sleeve, into which the tray of thirteen cards slid. The top of the tray featured, in fretwork effect, the shapes and outlines of one of the paintings. The thirteen paintings each featured, in profile, the image of a monkey, laid over intricate and highly decorative patterning and backgrounds, reflective of what was, at the time, Ofili’s trademark style of painting. Each painting rested on what appeared at the time to be Ofili’s distinctive motif and signature - balls of elephant dung.

The paintings, executed between 1999 and 2002, were exhibited in a special wood-panelled environment, designed by the popular architect, David Adjaye OBE. The postcard pack was described on its packaging as containing “thirteen postcards of the beautiful and intricate paintings of Chris Ofili’s The Upper Room.”

The paintings were at the centre of a controversy when it came to light that the Tate acquired the series, even as Ofili served as a Tate trustee. This breach of Charity Commission rules brought the Tate a reprimand and much unwanted, uncomfortable publicity.