Image of Gallery in South Kensington
On display at V&A South Kensington
Design 1900 to Now, Room 74

R.I.P. Stephen Lawrence 1974-1993

Screenprint
2013 (printed and published)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Chris Ofili has produced this print to raise funds for the Stephen Lawrence Charitable Trust as part of the SL20 Campaign, which marks the 20th anniversary of Stephen's death and celebrates his life and legacy.

In 'R.I.P. Stephen Lawrence 1974 - 1993', Ofili re-visits his iconic painting, 'No Woman, No Cry' (1998) - the artist's earlier tribute to the murdered South London teenager. Using a photographic image of the largely unseen phosphorescent layer of Ofili's 1993 painting as a starting point, the viscous ground, layers of textured detail and shadowy female silhouette in this work have been lithographically printed and the calligraphic text of the work's title is picked out in a layer of silk-screened phosphorescent ink.

Ofili states: "The vicious murder of Stephen Lawrence in 1993 and the pain and suffering of Doreen Lawrence and her family has had a dramatic effect on British life. The painting 'No Woman, No Cry', the image of the weeping woman, has always been my way to bring to the surface a sense of sorrow and loss. The painting also has another layer where the text, 'R.I.P. Stephen Lawrence 1974 - 1993', is spelled out but is only visible when viewing the painting in lowlight to signify an everlasting life. The recent conviction of two of the murderers was a bittersweet relief but the struggle with institutional racism in British life, highlighted in the Macpherson report, still continues."


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleR.I.P. Stephen Lawrence 1974-1993 (assigned by artist)
Materials and techniques
Lithographic print in four colours with silkscreened glow-in-dark text
Brief description
Chris Ofili: 'R.I.P. Stephen Lawrence 1974-1993', Lithographic print with silkcreened glow-in-the dark text, 2013.
Physical description
Screenprint
Dimensions
  • Height: 450mm
  • Width: 350mm
Copy number
80/100
Gallery label
  • Art against institutional racism Chris Ofili produced this print by reworking his 1998 painting ‘No Woman, No Cry’, made following the racially-motivated murder of Stephen Lawrence. The image of grief alludes to Stephen’s mother Doreen Lawrence, who campaigned for an inquiry into the failed murder investigation. Published to raise funds on the twentieth anniversary of her son’s murder, the print highlights the unresolved issue of institutional racism in Britain. Screen print ‘R.I.P. Stephen Lawrence 1974–1993’, 2013 Created by Chris Ofili Published by Counter Editions, printed by K2 and Pauper’s Press, UK Lithographic print with silkscreened photoluminescent ink Given by Counter Editions Museum no. E.602-2013 The object sits in the 'Crisis and Conflict' section of the Design 1900-Now gallery opened in June 2021.(2021)
  • In this print Ofili reworked his painting No Woman, No Cry, made following the murder of teenager Stephen Lawrence. The image of dignified grief alludes to Stephen’s mother Doreen, who led the campaign for an inquiry into the failed murder investigation. This print was published as a fundraiser and highlights the unresolved issue of institutional racism in British life.(25/09/2014)
Credit line
Given by Counter Editions
Summary
Chris Ofili has produced this print to raise funds for the Stephen Lawrence Charitable Trust as part of the SL20 Campaign, which marks the 20th anniversary of Stephen's death and celebrates his life and legacy.

In 'R.I.P. Stephen Lawrence 1974 - 1993', Ofili re-visits his iconic painting, 'No Woman, No Cry' (1998) - the artist's earlier tribute to the murdered South London teenager. Using a photographic image of the largely unseen phosphorescent layer of Ofili's 1993 painting as a starting point, the viscous ground, layers of textured detail and shadowy female silhouette in this work have been lithographically printed and the calligraphic text of the work's title is picked out in a layer of silk-screened phosphorescent ink.

Ofili states: "The vicious murder of Stephen Lawrence in 1993 and the pain and suffering of Doreen Lawrence and her family has had a dramatic effect on British life. The painting 'No Woman, No Cry', the image of the weeping woman, has always been my way to bring to the surface a sense of sorrow and loss. The painting also has another layer where the text, 'R.I.P. Stephen Lawrence 1974 - 1993', is spelled out but is only visible when viewing the painting in lowlight to signify an everlasting life. The recent conviction of two of the murderers was a bittersweet relief but the struggle with institutional racism in British life, highlighted in the Macpherson report, still continues."
Collection
Accession number
E.602-2013

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Record createdNovember 12, 2013
Record URL
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