Chris Ofili’s Tate tribute to
UCA alumni and artist Khadija Saye

UCA alumni Khadija Saye, who died in the Grenfell Tower fire, has been remembered in a stunning new work by British artist Chris Ofili CBE at Tate Britain.

11 Oct 2023

^{Chris Ofili, Requiem, 2023 (detail) commissioned for Tate Britain’s north staircase. © Chris Ofili. Courtesy the artist. Photograph: Thierry Bal}

Khadija takes centre stage in Ofili’s piece, Requiem, which spans three walls, and is a poetic reflection on loss, spirituality, and transformation. The entire composition is united by water, representing collective grief as well as connecting Venice – where the pair first met – London, and Ofili’s home in Trinidad.

Her pose is from a series of photographic tintype self-portraits she created in 2017, Dwelling: In This Space We Breathe. A screen-print from this series, Andichurai, will go on display alongside Requiem.

Khadija graduated from UCA in 2013 with degree in Photography. By the time of her death she had become an established artist and activist.

She first met Ofili in 2017, where her work was on display in the Diaspora Pavilion of the Venice Biennale.

In a recent Guardian article, Ofili said of her: “There was an undeniably genuine, honest presence about her.

It turns out she made quite extraordinary, mystical, alchemic self-portraits and works, fusing her history and the history of photography.”

He hopes the mural will “continue to speak across time to our collective sadness.”

^{Chris Ofili, Requiem, 2023 (detail) commissioned for Tate Britain’s north staircase. © Chris Ofili. Courtesy the artist. Photograph: Thierry Bal}

Matt Lindsey, a Senior Lecturer for UCA’s School of Fine Art, Crafts & Photography, remembers her well:

“Khadija brought a kind, attentive disposition to her time at UCA. She was a generous and humble individual exhibiting levels of perception beyond her own recognition.

“On entering the room, she would bring a reassuring genial warmth. It was an absolute privilege to be in her presence. Khadija was a bright talent whose work was just starting to receive the acclaim it deserved.”

Requiem can be found above Tate Britain’s north staircase and will be in place for the next ten years.

To learn more about Khadija Saye, visit Khadija Saye Arts at IntoUniversity, founded in 2019 to encourage and support young people with an interest in the arts.

UCA offers a Grenfell Tower Scholarship to survivors of the tragedy. For more information, visit our Scholarships and Free Discounts page and click fee discounts for UK students.

To learn more about studying photograhy at UCA, visit the course pages.