Essay on No Woman No Cry

For this assessment, the artwork is chosen is No Woman No Cry. In this artwork, Ofili wanted to explain the weeping profile of Doreen Lawrence and its son named was Stephen Lawrence that was killed by the racist gang back in 1993 in London. It was a massive tragedy for his mother because the police were not able to investigate this case. It was completely a racist act from the police department in London. This painting was the masterpiece of his mother and RIP Stephen Lawrence was visible beneath the layers of paint.

Holy Virgin Mary:  This painting was related to Holy Virgin Mary, and it was created in 1996 by Ofili. This painting was placed in the exhibition in London. The main subject of the painting was unique and it was considerable controversy in America. they were found this painting quite offensive. This painting was related to the childhood question of the painter and it was about virgin and race mothers. This can be explained in other words that which women are considered as a holy or good mothers. This painting was inspired by the catholic iconography in Africa.

List of 6 ways they are similar: In this section, there is complete information about the similarities present in both of these artworks.

1.      The first one is related to the painter. Both of these painting was designed by the same author. The name of this author is Chris Ofili.

2.      The next similarity is related to the theme. Both paintings are highlighting women's culture and society.

3.      The next similarity is related to the era. Both of this painting was painted in the last decade of the twentieth century. It can be noted that No Woman No cry was painted in 1996 and on the other hand, the Holy Virgin Mary was painted in 1993.

4.      Another similarity is related to the background. It can be noted that the background color is almost the same.

5.      There is another similarity present between this art is related to the black women society. The author is explaining the black women culture and their society in his painting

6.      The last similarity is the related concept of mother. These paintings are highlighting the main concept of mother. In the painting No Women No Cry there is complete information about the mother of Stephen Lawrence that was killed with no justice. Moreover, the next painting was related to the African mother.

List of 6 ways they are different: There are a lot of differences present in both of these paintings

1.      The first difference is related to the nature of the painting. In No Women No Cry, the painter was giving information about the mother's behavior about his murdered son. On the other hand, the Holy Virgin Mary is related to the modern culture of African’s mother

2.      The next difference is that in No Women No Cry, the eyes of the women was closed and in the Holy Virgin Mary they were closed

3.      In the Holy Virgin Mary, the painter is using different colors by mixing them. But in No Women No Cry painter was using bright colors.

4.      Moreover, in the Holy Virgin Mary, the painter is showing complete women but in No Women No Cry, there is only the face of that woman.

5.      In No Women No Cry, some patterns are showing sadness and in The Holy Virgin Mary, some patterns are showing boldness and modernisms of the women.

6.      In No Women No Cry, the painter is showing sadness but in the Holy Virgin, the painter is showing the modernism culture of women.

Reference of No Woman No Cry

TheArtStory. (2020). Chris Ofili Artworks. Retrieved from TheArtStory: https://www.theartstory.org/artist/ofili-chris/artworks/