Biography of Walter Battiss
GALLERY AOP has mounted three exhibitions of the paper work of Water Battiss. The first, of his German prints made in 1969, was mounted in August 2008; the second, of his drawings, was held in June 2009; and the third, his screen prints of 1973/4, was staged in December 2010. The first print exhibition showcased very rare silkscreens Battiss made in 1969, following his meeting with German master printer Josef Kroll in München, who taught him how to integrate photography in the silkscreening process. The show also included seldom seen woodcut prints of abstract African-like motifs Battiss pulled in the 1950s. His experiments with woodcut printing led to his use of oil paint on the blocks instead of conventional ink. As a result these woodcuts are unique pieces in the Battiss oeuvre. The drawing exhibition in 2009 included a series of pen and ink sketches of Limpopo, an area he explored in the early 1950s, as well as a series of calligraphic drawings of the late 1950s which reflects Battiss’s interest in alphabets and languages, among other things. In addition, the drawing show featured many figure studies, including many related to his visual exploration of his famous orgy work. Seldom seen drawings in which Battiss used white ink on black paper formed part of the collection of the Battiss drawing holding of the Gallery. The 2010 exhibition showcased screen prints Battiss pulled in London in 1973/4 in conjunction with another master printer, Chris Betambeau in London.
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