Literature

Warren Siebrits (ed) (2016) Walter Battiss: "I Invented Myself", exhibition catalogue, Johannesburg: The Ampersand Foundation, another impression from the edition illustrated in colour on page 121, cat. no. 1973.10 S8*.

Notes

Battiss was not one to shy away from the erotic, garnering some controversy from the public and critics alike. He was accused of 'descending into pornography' in an article published in The Sunday Times, published 2 December 1973.¹

The artist vehemently opposed this claim. Stating "To me, as an artist, love-making is an essential part of man. It relates to all creation."² Once again inspired by Picasso, Battiss aimed to push the boundaries of the South African art cannon.

The lot 60, 61 and 62 are striking examples of Battiss' erotic prints, depicting male and female figures in an explicit and often exaggerated manner that was not in line with the South African art world in the early 70s.

¹Warren Siebrits (ed) (2016) Walter Battiss: "I Invented Myself", exhibition catalogue, Johannesburg: The Ampersand Foundation, page 118.

²Ibid., page 118.

The proceeds from the sale of this lot will benefit The Ampersand Foundation.

The Ampersand Foundation is a non-profit charitable trust established in 1997,managed by a board of South African and American trustees. The foundation rewards excellence in the visual arts by granting an Ampersand Fellowship Award to professional South African contemporary visual arts practitioners, offering a fully funded one-month residency in New York
City. During the residency, recipients of this grant have the opportunity to visit leading museums, gaining international exposure and enriching their professional development. In addition to the fellowship, the Foundation supports local artists by providing bursaries and acquiring their work for public museums and galleries, thereby contributing to the growth and accessibility of contemporary art and artists’ books in South Africa.