Artnews reviews Chris Ofili: Poolside Magic at Victoria Miro Venice

Water Ways: Chris Ofili Delivers a Stunning Show of Drawings at Victoria Miro in Venice

By Andrew Russeth

If you are in Venice right now, drop what you are doing and go see "Poolside Magic," Chris Ofili's exhibition at the new space that London gallery Victoria Miro opened last night in San Marco. It is a resoundingly beautiful show, a jewel box of twenty-seven smoldering drawings on a single subject. In almost every one, a cocktail waiter appears before a naked woman, who reclines, poses, or sips a drink. Either standing at attention or bent at a full bow, he is presenting a bowl from which flames, smoke, or perhaps supernatural clouds are emerging-all absinthe green and coral blue. A face is hidden within those waves of color, lost in some private, wonderful reverie as she soars over the attentive man.

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