13 Facts About Walter Battiss

Walter Whall Battiss was a South African artist, known as the creator of the "Fook Island" concept.

Walter Battiss first became interested in archaeology and tribal art as a young boy after moving to Koffiefontein in 1917.

In 1919 the Walter Battiss family settled in Fauresmith where he completed his education, matriculating in 1923.

Walter Battiss continued his studies while working as a magistrate's clerk, and finally obtained his bachelor's degree in Fine Arts at University of South Africa at the age of 35.

Walter Battiss was a founding member of the New Group, a loose friendship of recognized contemporary European and American artists.

Walter Battiss 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.

Walter Battiss was influenced by African cultural Ndebele beadwork and generally by pre-Islamic cultures and calligraphy.

Walter Battiss published nine books, wrote many articles and founded the periodical "De Arte".

Walter Battiss taught art at Pretoria Boys High School from 1936 for most of the next 30 years and at the Pretoria Art Centre, of which was the principal from 1953 to 1958.

Walter Battiss taught at UNISA where he became Professor of Fine Art in 1964 and retired in 1971.

Walter Battiss died of a heart attack in Port Shepstone, KwaZulu-Natal on 20 August 1982.

Walter Battiss created a Fookian language with a full alphabet as well.

Walter Battiss 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.