Afternoon with La Soufrière (prelude 4) is taken from a series of drawings that are devoted to the figures of Calypso and Odysseus from Homer’s epic Greek poem The Odyssey, who unfurl and dance amongst the lush abstract backgrounds. The series is a new body of work by Ofili, focusing on the figures of Greek mythology; stories of love and desire, adventure and magic, destructive gods, helpless humans, fantastical creatures.

In 1998 Serpentine hosted the first solo exhibition of Chris Ofili’s work in London, bringing together 25 paintings created over the span of six years, showcasing Ofili’s eclectic approach to painting since his graduation from the Royal College of Art in 1993. Ofili won the 1998 Turner Prize for his acclaimed exhibition at Southampton City Art Gallery, organised in partnership with the Serpentine Gallery.

This new limited edition by Chris Ofili was generously donated to the Serpentine Galleries on the occasion of the Galleries' 50th Anniversary.