Chris Ofili at David Zwirner Gallery

Four paintings hang against chain link fencing at David Zwirner Gallery in Chelsea, inaccessible to the public except by a narrow corridor between the fence and the wall, which has been painted with towering figures of sinuous dancers, themselves depicted behind a painted fence. The show is titled ‘Paradise Lost’ and follows Ofili’s ‘The Caged Bird’s Song’ at London’s National Gallery, for which the artist alluded to the practice in his adopted home, Trinidad, of raising caged songbirds. Here, aggressive fencing suggests that it is not the song of the caged bird that is sweeter. (On view through Oct 21st).

Chris Ofili, installation view of ‘Paradise Lost’ at David Zwirner Gallery’s 533 West 19th Street space, Sept 2017.

Rokni Haerizadeh in ‘A Storm is Blowing From Paradise’ at the Guggenheim Museum

Painting over You Tube video stills, Iranian artist Rokni Haerizadeh morphs familiar imagery into a setting for mythological creatures inspired by Persian tradition. Here, a building echoes the Guggenheim’s spiraling form but is surrounded by emergency vehicles, one of which has partially changed into a fish. (At the Guggenheim, in ‘A Storm is Blowing from Paradise: Contemporary Art of the Middle East and North Africa’ through Oct 5th).

Rokni Haerizadeh, one piece from the 24-part work ‘But a Storm is Blowing from Paradise,’ gesso, watercolor and ink on inkjet prints, 2014.
Rokni Haerizadeh, one piece from the 24-part work ‘But a Storm is Blowing from Paradise,’ gesso, watercolor and ink on inkjet prints, 2014.