Alastair Whitton

The much anticipated artist’s book edition of Alastair whitton’s Patmos and the War at Sea project was released today. This work represents the culmination of the larger project begun in 2008. Selected works from the project were selected for inclusion in Borders: 8th Bamako Encounters African Photography Biennial in 2009. This Pan-African exhibition, which premiered at Musée du National in Bamako, Mali was curated by Michket Krifa and Laura Serani and co-produced by the Malian Ministry of Culture and CulturesFrance, Paris in partnership with the European Union, Bollore Africa Logistics, AFD, OIF and puma.creative. The exhibition toured to FotoMuseum, Antwerp; The Johannesburg Art Gallery; IZIKO South African National Gallery, Cape Town; Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, Lisbon; and The Contemporary Art Centre in Vilnius, Lithuania. The complete works of Patmos and the War at Sea, comprising 33 individual double page spreads, were shown as a solo exhibition at David Krut Projects Johannesburg in 2009 with an edited version traveling to iArt Gallery Wembley: A Project Room for Contemporary Art in Cape Town in 2010. Selected works from the project were also included in the 2009 Joburg Art Fair, Editions|Artists’ Book Fair in New York, Lees tussen die lyne at the University of Stellenbosch Art Gallery and Works in Series: Alastair Whitton, Diane Victor & William Kentridge at David Krut Projects Johannesburg in 2010. The exhibitions, entitled Conflict Zones: The Language of War and IMPRINT: Selected Editions and Works on Paper, shown in 2011 at David Krut Projects Cape Town both included examples from the series. More recently selected works from the Patmos and the War at Sea project were added to the Ellerman Contemporary Art Collection in Cape Town as well as the National Museum of Mali in Bamako. For related reviews and publications access the menu tab above.
Patmos and the War at Sea
Date: 2008-2011
Medium: 6 plate Polymer gravure on 300gsm BFK Rives cotton rag with laser-cut Braille contained in an engraved, aluminum clad wooden box lined with 250gsm Black Somerset cotton rag envelope and housed in an imbuia hardwood museum display case
Dimensions: 215 x 210mm (closed) / 215 x 1610mm (open)
Edition: 5 + 2 Artist’s Proofs
Concept and design: Alastair Whitton
Photography Consultant: Damon Hyland
Printer: Warren Editions, Cape Town
Publisher: Alastair Whitton
© Alastair Whitton 2011

Alastair Whitton joined Zhane Warren and her team at Warren Editions in Cape Town this week for the printing of his book edition of Patmos and the War at Sea. This version (which is both artist book and sculptural object simultaneously) represents the culmination of the project (begun in 2008 and exhibited at various galleries and museums in both Africa and Europe) and consists of a six page concertina polymer gravure with laser cut Braille which will be housed in an engraved, metal-clad “book box”, hand made by the artist. The edition is limited to five plus two artist’s proofs and will be released early 2012.

Work by Alastair Whitton is included in the exhibition entitled IMPRINT: SELECTED EDITIONS AND WORKS ON PAPER opening December 10 at David Krut Projects Cape Town. Artists include Frank Auerbach, Willem Boshoff, Marlene Dumas, Robert Hodgins, William Kentridge, Chris Ofili, Paula Rego and Luc Tuymans among others.

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Selected works from Alastair Whitton’s Patmos and the War at Sea will be exhibited alongside prints by Ryan Arensen, William Kentridge and Diane Victor in Conflict Zones: The Language of War at David Krut Projects Cape Town from 15 October - 3 December, 2011.

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The 8th Encounters of Bamako African Photography Biennial touring exhibition ends its journey at the Contemporary Art Centre in Vilnius, Lithuania this month. The Pan African exhibition, with the curatorial them “Borders” premiered at the Musee National du Mali in Bamako and subsequently went on to be exhibited at venues in South Africa and Europe. Works from Alastair Whitton’ s Patmos and the War at Sea project are included in the substantial collection of works from around Africa. The Contemporary Art Centre will host the exhibition until 16 October 2011.

The Contemporary Art Centre (CAC) is the largest venue for contemporary art in the Baltic States, with an exhibition space of 2400 square meters. The CAC is a non-collection based institution committed to developing a broad range of international and Lithuanian exhibition projects as well as presenting a wide range of public programmes including lectures, seminars, performances, film and video screenings, and live new music events.

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Works by Alastair Whitton selected for inclusion in the 8th Encounters of Bamako African Photography Biennial, will be on show at the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation in Lisbon from 14 May until 28 August 2011. The exhibition premiered at the Musee National du Mali in Bamako and then toured to FotoMuseum in Antwerp, Belgium (March 2010), the Johannesburg Art Gallery (July 2010) and The South African National Gallery in Cape Town (October 2010 to January 2011).

The exhibition brings together around 180 photographs and videos that reflect today’s African artistic approach to photography and video. Addressing the theme “Borders”, this collective exhibition provides diverse interpretations and representations of socio-political, cultural and identity issues.

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Selected works from Alastair Whitton’s Patmos and the War at Sea are included in the exhibition entitled Works in Series: William Kentridge, Diane Victor & Alastair Whitton at David Krut Projects Johannesburg.

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Alastair Whitton in conversation with Christy Tennant, International Arts Movement, New York.

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Alastair Whitton’s Patmos and the War at Sea is reviewed by South African artist and photographer, Dave Southwood in the Summer Edition of Art South Africa magazine.

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Works by Alastair Whitton selected for inclusion in the 8th Encounters of Bamako African Photography Biennial, will be on show at the South African National Gallery in Cape Town from 26 October, 2010 to 30 January, 2011. The exhibition premiered at the Musee National du Mali in Bamako and was subsequently shown at FotoMuseum in Antwerp, Belgium (March 2010) and the Johannesburg Art Gallery (July 2010).

The exhibition brings together around 180 photographs and videos that reflect today’s African artistic approach to photography and video. Addressing the theme “Borders”, this collective exhibition provides diverse interpretations and representations of socio-political, cultural and identity issues.

click here to read more

Alastair Whitton’s Patmos and the War at Sea is reviewed by Alexandra Dodd in WANTED Magazine.

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Alastair Whitton’s Patmos and the War at Sea travels to iArt Gallery Wembley: A Project Room for Contemporary Art, Cape Town.

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Alastair Whitton’s Patmos and the War at Sea is reviewed by Christy Tennant for Culture-Making.org.

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David Krut and Alastair Whitton launch new expansion of David Krut Projects, Cape Town.

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In collaboration with David Krut, Alastair Whitton designs and project manages expansions for David Krut Projects, Cape Town.

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Selected works from Patmos and the War at Sea are included in the 8th Bamako Encounters African Photography Biennale at the Johannesburg Art Gallery from 22 June - 26 September, 2010.

Anthea Buys writes about the exhibition - click here to read the article

Alastair Whitton’s Van Diemen’s Land: The Book of Names is highlighted in New Editions by Anthea Pockroy, David Krut Publishing, Johannesburg.

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Initial proof of Alastair Whitton’s Van Diemens Land: The Book of Names is included in David Krut Projects selection for the 3rd Joburg Art Fair, April 2010.

Works from Alastair Whitton’s Patmos and the War at Sea selected for inclusion in the 8th Encounters of Bamako African Photography Biennial that premiered at Musee National du Mali in Bamako, will be on show at Fotomuseum in Antwerp, Belgium from 23 February - 16 May, 2010.

The exhibition brings together around 180 photographs and videos that reflect today’s African artistic approach to photography and video. Addressing the theme “Borders”, this collective exhibition provides diverse interpretations and representations of socio-political, cultural and identity issues.

click here to read more

Selected works from Alastair Whitton’s Patmos and the War at Sea are included in Lees teen die lyne at the University of Stellenbosch as part of Wordfees 2010.

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Patmos and the War at Sea is rated as one of the three best exhibitions of 2009 by Mary Corrigall, arts writer for the Sunday Independent, who describes the body of work as a series of “astute statements … about the relationship between language and imagery that challenge our expectations of photography.”

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Antawan Byrd, in his review of the _8th Encounters of Bamako African Photography Biennial highlights Alastair Whitton’s work as showing “real critical and conceptual engagement”.

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Selected works from Alastair Whitton’s Patmos and the War at Sea are included in the 8th Encounters of Bamako African Photography Biennale at the Musee National du Mali in Bamako, Mali from 7 November - 7 December, 2009.

Selected works from Alastair Whitton’s Patmos and the War at Sea are represented by David Krut Projects at the Editions / Artist’s Books Fair in New York.

Alastair Whitton’s Patmos and the War at Sea is reviewed by Tim James from the University of Cape Town.

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Alastair Whitton’s Patmos and the War at Sea opens at David Krut Projects, Johannesburg.

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Alastair Whitton is awarded a PUMA.Creative Mobility Grant and travels to Bamako and Paris.

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Alastair Whitton’s Patmos and the War at Sea is reviewed by Jacqueline Nurse, David Krut Projects, Cape Town.

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Alastair Whitton is interviewed by Jacqueline Nurse at David Krut Projects in Cape Town.

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Alastair Whitton is selected as one of seven artists to represent South Africa at the 8th Encounters of Bamako African Photography Biennial in Mali. Other South African artists represented include, Jodi Bieber, Lebohang Mashiloane, Zanele Muholi, Riason Naidoo, Dinkies Sithole and Graeme Williams.

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Artist’s proofs of selected works from Alastair Whitton’s Patmos and the War at Sea are included in David Krut Projects selection for the 2nd Joburg Art Fair.

Alastair Whitton’s recent intaglio edition is included in Prints from The David Krut Workshop at the University of South Africa Art Gallery

In consultation with Myerson Fine Art, Coca-Cola purchase a painting by Alastair Whitton for their corporate collection in Cape Town.

Alastair Whitton is represented by David Krut Projects at the 1st Joburg Art Fair.

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An intaglio edition by Alastair Whitton is included in Recent Work: David Krut Print Workshop at David Krut Arts Resource, Johannesburg.

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David Krut and Alastair Whitton launch David Krut Bookstore and Printroom in Cape Town.

In consultation with Myerson Fine Art, Brait Financial Services purchase a series of Alastair Whitton’s Papergrids for their corporate collection in Cape Town.

Alastair Whitton is invited by David Krut to produce an intaglio edition at the David Krut Workshop in Johannesburg and works with master printer Jillian Ross.

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Filter, a solo exhibition by Alastair Whitton featuring the artist’s Papergrids opens at Obert Contemporary in Johannesburg.

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Selected Papergrids by Alastair Whitton are included in Leading and Emerging South African Artists at Rose Korber Art in Cape Town.

Alastair Whitton’s Papergrids are included in South-east: Contemporary Art from China, Japan and South Africa at 34 Long Fine Art, Cape Town

Desert, a solo exhibition by Alastair Whitton featuring the artist’s stitched earth grids opens at the Ibis Art Centre in Nieu Bethesda, Great Karoo.

Alastair Whitton returns to South Africa, taking up residence in an isolated farmhouse in the semi-desert region of the Great Karoo in order to focus his time and energies on art making.

Selected work from Alastair Whitton’s Signs of the Times series is included in Topographies: Contemporary South African Photography at the South African Centre for Photography in Cape Town. The exhibition forms part of the annual Cape Town Month of Photography festival and includes work by among others Guy Tillim, Santu Mofokeng, Neville Gabie, Lien Botha, Jodi Bieber, Paul Weinberg, Graeme Williams and David Goldbaltt.

Selected works from Alastair Whitton’s Signs of the Times series are included in Topographies: Contemporary South African Photography at the Zimbabwe National Gallery in Harare.

Recent work by Alastair Whiton is included in ABSA Atelier Award Winners 1986-1999 at the ABSA Gallery in Johannesburg.

Alastair Whitton’s artist book Material Evidence is included in Books as Art, the central exhibition of the Cheltenham International Literary Festival in England.

Kraal, a two-man exhibition by South African artist Alastair Whitton and British artist Neville Gabie opens at Gasworks in London.

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Selected works by Alastair Whitton will be included in DIS-EASE: Young South African Contemporaries which opens at the Axiom Art Centre in Cheltenham, England on 9 March, 1998. Participating artists include Greg Streak, Jose Ferreira and Liza du Plessis.

Alastair Whitton’s photographic work from the Material Evidence project is included in Lifetimes: Contemporary Art from Southern Africa, the central exhibition of Munich’s Out of Africa Festival.

Alastair Whitton’s photographic series Conversations with Thomas forms part of Photosynthesis: Contemporary South African Photography curated by Kathy Grundlingh and Marilyn Martin. The central exhibition of this year’s Standard Bank National Arts Festival, the show will travel to the Standard Bank Gallery in Johannesburg and the South African National Gallery in Cape Town.

Alastair Whitton leaves South Africa to take up a teaching post at the Cheltenham College of Art & Design at the University of Gloucestershire in England.

Material Evidence, a two-man exhibition by South African artist Alastair Whitton and British artist Neville Gabie opens at the NSA Gallery in Durban. Funded by the British Arts Council the exhibition travels to the Tatham Art Gallery, Pietermaritsburg, July 3-27 and the Africus Institute for Contemporary Art, Johannesburg, August 8-29.

Alastair Whitton’s work is included in Stuttgart meets Durban / Durban meets Stuttgart, an exhibition of emerging South African artists in Stuttgart, Germany.

Alastair Whitton’s Paper Veils are included in Jabulisa: The Art of Kwa Zulu Natal, the central exhibition of this year’s Standard Bank National Arts Festival which travels to the Durban Art Museum, the Tatham Art Gallery, Pietermaritzburg and the Standard Bank Gallery in Johannesburg.

Alastair Whitton is elected the first curator of the newly established NSA Gallery in Durban, the largest purpose built gallery in South Africa.

Emma Smith Scholarship Award winner Alastair Whitton furthers his studies at the Glasgow School of Art as part of an MFA international exchange programme initiated by South African artist Jeremy Wafer and British artist Roger Palmer.

Objects of Desire, an exhibition of works by 10 Natal artists including Jeremy Wafer, Virginia MacKenny, Alastair Whitton, Jose Ferreira, Andrew Verster and Trevor Makoba opens at the Thompson Gallery in Johannesburg as part of the Johannesburg Biennale Fringe.

Re-collection, a solo exhibition of photographs by Alastair Whitton opens at the Durban Centre for Photography.

Alastair Whitton wins the Natal Technikon’s annual Emma Smith Overseas Scholarship and his entire exhibition is purchased with funds from a sponsor for the Natal Technikon Collection. He graduates NDipFA with Distinction and is the overall best student in the Faculty of Arts.

Photographs by Alastair Whitton are included in Artists invite Artists at the Durban Art Museum.