Which artwork is known for incorporating elephant dung in its mixed media?

• A. The Holy Virgin Mary
• B. The Dinner Party
• C. Marilyn Diptych
• D. Flag

Answer: (A)

Recognizing the use of unconventional materials in mixed media. The Holy Virgin Mary by Chris Ofili is famous for incorporating elephant dung into its surface along with collage and other materials. This choice of material became a powerful part of how the artwork communicates its themes about religion, race, and cultural imagery, making it stand out as a mixed-media work that literally uses nontraditional substance to provoke thought.

The other works use different media: The Dinner Party is a large feminist installation built with ceramic, embroidery, and textiles; Marilyn Diptych is a series of silkscreen prints with paint; Flag is a painting that combines encaustic wax with collage on a flag motif. None of these involve elephant dung, which is why The Holy Virgin Mary is the best example for this question.