Walter Whall Battiss
(1906-1982) - (exhibition by)
Pages: unpaged (6pp) Size: 255mm Language: English
Sub-type: Exhibition catalogue
Place publication: Yarraluma, Canberra, Australia Publisher: The South African Embassy Schoonraad Not listed
Additional notes: Battiss is represented by four items in this large Australian exhibition of 28 artists. His name is mis-spelled Battis throughout. "Regarded by some critics as the greatest and most influential living South African artist of the older generation, Battiss' ideas are ahead of other South African artists and thus he has been called the "Picasso of South Africa". He did, in fact, spend some time as an observer in Picasso's studio. Battis was Professor of fine arts in the University of South Africa until he retired in 1971. His influence as a teacher is as important as his art. At the beginning of his career he was influenced by the Bushmen Rock Artists, and this influence can still be seen in his works.