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344:– blended together in his customary imaginative fashion. In Battiss's words, "It is something that does not exist. I thought that I would take an island – the island that is inside all of us. I would turn this island into a real thing ... I would give it a name". Fook was a result of his fertile imagination as well as his opposition to the
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Walter
Battiss's long career as an artist was devoted to the study of man in his environment; first in the context of Africa and rock art, then, later, in the interpretation of this concept in its broadest sense. His versatility and influence as an innovator and the incentive he provided for many
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This "island of the imagination" was a materialization of
Battiss' philosophy for which he created a map, imaginary people, plants, animals, a history as well as a set of postage stamps, currency, passports and driver's licenses. He created a Fookian language with a full alphabet as well. This
356:. The movement espoused that the construction of art was confined to the 'moment' in which it was created. He believed to the contrary that all art exists in the now and this he argued to represent with Fook Island, which was always in the now and always an essential part of reality.
219:, a loose friendship of recognized contemporary European and American artists. He was unique among them, in the sense that he was from what were then regarded as the colonies and in that he had not studied in either Europe or North America. In fact, in 1938 he visited
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195:(a Teacher's Diploma) and etching lessons. Battiss continued his studies while working as a magistrate's clerk, and finally obtained his bachelor's degree in Fine Arts at
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from 1936 for most of the next 30 years and at the
Pretoria Art Centre, of which was the principal from 1953 to 1958. He also taught at
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Battiss's
Fookian Driver's License was accepted in America and the colourful pages of his Fookian Passport has official stamps from
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where he became
Professor of Fine Art in 1964 and retired in 1971. In 1973 he was awarded a D.Litt. et Phil. (honoris causa) from
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In 1981 he donated all his work to the newly opened "Walter
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where he completed his education, matriculating in 1923. In 1924 he became a clerk in the
Magistrates Court in
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interviewed
Battiss in 1982 and also agreed to his request of becoming a 'resident' of the imaginary island.
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Battiss published nine books, wrote many articles and founded the periodical "De Arte". He taught art at
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aspiring artists secured him a special place among leading South
African artists.
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utopian 'island' was a composite of the many islands he visited – which included
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painting as an important art form. He was also influenced by
African cultural
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and many others embraced the philosophy of Fook Island. The journalist
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for the first time. The following year, he published his first book,
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Write up of 2005 Retrospective Exhibition with pics of Battiss' work
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Walter Battiss Art Museum, 45 Paulet Street, Somerset East
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187:. His formal art studies started in 1929 at the
179:in 1917. In 1919 the Battiss family settled in
393:. A Fookian banknote was also exchanged at a
137:(6 January 1906 – 20 August 1982) was a
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527:Olympic bronze medalists in art competitions
250:who would have an influence on his style.
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286:Walter Battiss died of a heart attack in
261:in 1972, which inspired his make-believe
191:(drawing and painting), followed by the
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537:20th-century South African male artists
517:South African people of English descent
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482:Walter Battiss Museum in Somerset East
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542:Medalists at the 1948 Summer Olympics
215:Battiss was a founding member of the
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440:"Walter Whall Battiss (1906 – 1982)"
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348:movement of the 1960s and 70s, in
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522:University of South Africa alumni
167:. He first became interested in
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193:Johannesburg Training College
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270:Pretoria Boys High School
152:Battiss was born into an
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127:Engravings and etchings
246:In 1949 he befriended
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456:Allan, Jani (1980s).
257:in 1966-1968 and the
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100:Olympic medal record
16:South African painter
135:Walter Whall Battiss
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294:on 20 August 1982.
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227:. His interest in
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69:(1982-08-20)
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512:1982 deaths
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307:Fook Island
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253:He visited
169:archaeology
121:1948 London
501:Categories
459:Face Value
401:References
376:Jani Allan
322:Madagascar
318:Seychelles
259:Seychelles
185:Rustenburg
181:Fauresmith
173:tribal art
148:Early life
41:1906-01-06
424:14 August
419:Olympedia
383:Australia
370:, writer
298:Influence
217:New Group
157:Methodist
314:Zanzibar
229:rock art
163:town of
90:Painting
391:Germany
387:Britain
354:America
342:Comores
248:Picasso
241:Islamic
237:Ndebele
154:English
350:Europe
336:, the
330:Hawaii
316:, the
255:Greece
221:Europe
203:Career
142:artist
338:Greek
334:Samoa
278:UNISA
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161:Karoo
49:Karoo
426:2020
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