Alastair Whitton

Artist: Alastair Whitton
Title: Windows
Date: 2012
Medium: Archival pigment print on UV museum glass
Edition: 3 + 2 Artist’s Proofs + 2 Trial Proofs
Publisher: Alastair Whitton
© Alastair Whitton 2012

Based on a definition of the word from an Oxford Universal Dictionary from the artist’ childhood, Sea takes the form of an artist’s book object and ponders processes of perception and the limitations of language. A comment on how we see and make sense of the world around us Sea explores the disjuncture between information and knowledge. Sea was first exhibited in Cross-Currents at David Krut Projects Cape Town.

Artist: Alastair Whitton
Title: Sea
Date: 2012
Medium: Artist’s book object
Dimensions: 291 x 291mm (shut) 567 x 291mm (open)
Edition: 3 + 2 AP’s
Publisher: Alastair Whitton
© Alastair Whitton 2012

Patmos and the War at Sea: Artist’s Book edition represents the culmination of the larger project begun in 2008, selected works from which were included in Borders: 8th Bamako Encounters African Photography Biennial in 2009. This Pan-African exhibition, which premiered at Musée du National in Bamako, Mali travelled to various European museums and institutions as well as the South African National Gallery in Cape Town.

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
Publisher: Alastair Whitton
© Alastair Whitton 2011

Arts writer Mary Corrigall has described Patmos and the War at Sea as a series of “astute statements…about the relationship between language and imagery that challenge our expectations of photography.” Antawan Byrd, Curatorial Assistant at the Centre for Contemporary Art, Lagos in his review of Borders: 8th Bamako Encounters African Photography Biennial highlights Alastair Whitton’s work as showing “real critical and conceptual engagement”.

Patmos and the War at Sea, a series comprising 33 individual archival pigment prints was first shown as a solo exhibition at David Krut Projects Johannesburg in October 2009 and selected works from the project were chosen for the 8th Bamako Encounters African Photography Biennial exhibition entitled Borders. This Pan-African exhibition, which premiered at Musée du National in Bamako, Mali in November 2009 toured to various European museums and institutions as well as the South African National Gallery in Cape Town. Selected works from the project were represented at the 2009 Editions/Artist’s Book Fair in New York and were also included in Works in Series: Alastair Whitton, Diane Victor & William Kentridge at David Krut Projects Johannesburg in 2010.

Artist: Alastair Whitton
Title: Patmos and the War at Sea
Date: 2008-2009
Medium: Archival pigment print and laser cut Braille with hand finishing
Dimensions: 280 x 560mm
Edition: 10 + 2 Artist’s Proofs
Publisher: Alastair Whitton
© Alastair Whitton 2009

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Artist: Alastair Whitton
Title: Filter
Date: 2004-2006
Medium: Hand pierced and stitched archival paper on museum foam-core board
Dimensions: Variable
Edition: Unique works
Publisher: Alastair Whitton
© Alastair Whitton 2006

Artist: Alastair Whitton
Title: Desert
Date: 2003
Medium: Earth pigment, microcrystalline wax and Japanese rice paper
Dimensions: Variable
Edition: Unique works
Publisher: Alastair Whitton
© Alastair Whitton 2003

Artist: Alastair Whitton
Title: Conversations with Thomas
Date: 1996-1997
Medium: Artist’s book comprising 9 silver gelatin prints on archival paper
Dimensions: 250 x 250mm
Edition: 5 + 2 Artist’s Proofs
Publisher: Alastair Whitton
© Alastair Whitton 1997

Artist: Alastair Whitton
Title: Jericho Rose
Date: 1994
Medium: Plaster, wax, wood, steel, aluminium, plexiglass and silver gelatin prints
Dimensions: Variable
Edition: Unique works
Publisher: Alastair Whitton
© Alastair Whitton 1994