Chris Ofili

Gabriele Finaldi

Minna A. Moore Ede

Two and a half years in the making, 'The Caged Bird's Song' is a monumental tapestry by the celebrated British artist, Chris Ofili. Accompanying 'Chris Ofili: Weaving Magic', the artist's ambitious presentation of the tapestry within a specially conceived environment in the Sunley Room at the National Gallery, this publication tells the story of the work?s evolution and documents the close collaboration between Ofili and master weavers who have interpreted his designs with astonishing nuance. A suite of previously unseen preparatory watercolours and works on paper and a revealing essay by the exhibition's curator, Minna Moore Ede, further illuminate this extraordinary project by one of the most acclaimed artists working today.

Weaving Magic

Monica Mason

This visually stunning publication celebrates a unique collaboration between two of the UKs leading cultural institutions, the National Gallery and The Royal Ballet. Together they commissioned three contemporary artists Chris Ofili, Conrad Shawcross and Mark Wallinger to work with international choreographers and composers to create three new ballets inspired by Titians paintings Diana and Actaeon, The Death of Actaeon and Diana and Callisto. As well as designing all the sets and costumes, the artists also produced entirely new works in response to Titians masterpieces for a show at the National Gallery. The book tells the story of this extraordinary, complex project from conception to stage and gallery. The artists notebooks, sketches and other material from the studio are reproduced to show how they evolved their initial ideas into working designs. Numerous views of the dancers rehearsals, installations and production work, and dozens of unseen photographs of the performances themselves, take the reader behind the scenes to see the many processes and people involved in transforming the artists vision into a finished production. All three creative teams offer through interviews and personal statements their own reflections on the project and on working with very different art forms. An introduction by National Gallery curator and originator of the project, Minna Moore Ede, explains how it came to fruition and how both aspects of the collaboration unfolded. A foreword by Dame Monica Mason, outgoing director of The Royal Ballet, completes the volume.

Minna A. Moore Ede

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