portraitforhumanpresence

David Whittaker ‘The Portrait For Human Presence’

The Portrait for Human Presence.
How can we quantify the essence of our existence? How do we maintain an
individual stable presence in the chaos of the times that we live in? Is our
presence not connected to the sphere that surrounds us and as such felt
everywhere? Is the equilibrium disrupted by our dominance over all other species?
Is our solitary presence not the history of all of us - the history of all things? As
a microscopic entity I feel that I am growing in to my own presence, more and
more with the passing of time. I realise my own significance.
This ongoing body of work evolved from a series of clawing and snarling
paintings that I made commenting, in part, on the catastrophic events
unfolding in the Middle East. Having painted these crude panels I was then led on
to these individual works using that same gust and vigour. Bringing the force of my
materials together to create these inexplicable portraits. The ‘cameo’
window reminds us of an idyl in a world that is forever changing and
increasingly unpredictable.
David Whittaker, 2015

The Man Portrait From Window
(Kings Cross, London)
92 x 92 cm . oil, acrylic, collage, pencil on primed wood panel
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3

Soho You Pretty Things
(Study For Female Dancer, London)
92 x 92 cm . oil, acrylic, collage, pencil on primed wood panel
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5

It’s About Making Your Own Peace With The Existence Then After That Is A Bonus
(Alcoholic Talking To A Priest In A London Pub)
92 x 92 cm . oil, acrylic, collage, pencil on primed wood panel
6

7

Lucifer Landing
(Young Male Dressing As A Girl For The First Time In London)
92 x 92 cm . oil, acrylic, collage, pencil on primed wood panel
8

9

The Endureth
(Prisoner Of The Wilderness Visiting Paget Memorial Mission Hall, London)
92 x 92 cm . oil, acrylic, collage, pencil on primed wood panel
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11

Recording The Silent At Their Hour
(From Middlesex Hospital Chapel to London Zoo)
92 x 92 cm . oil, acrylic, collage, pencil on primed wood panel
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13

Portrait for Human Presence
(No 1)
92 x 92 cm . oil, acrylic, collage, pencil on primed wood panel
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15

Portrait for Human Presence
(No 2)
92 x 92 cm . oil, acrylic, collage, pencil on primed wood panel
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Portrait for Human Presence
(No 3)
92 x 92 cm . oil, acrylic, collage, pencil on primed wood panel
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Portrait for Human Presence (I Ventow Gimps For Art)
(No 4)
92 x 92 cm . oil, acrylic, collage, pencil on primed wood panel
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Portrait for Human Presence (Station Of Animal)
(No 5)
92 x 92 cm . oil, acrylic, collage, pencil on primed wood panel
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23

Portrait for Human Presence (Asilanom)
(No 6)
92 x 92 cm . oil, acrylic, collage, pencil on primed wood panel
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Portrait for Human Presence (The Displaced)
(No 7)
92 x 92 cm . oil, acrylic, collage, pencil on primed wood panel
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Portrait for Human Presence (The Displaced II)
(No 8)
92 x 92 cm . oil, acrylic, collage, pencil on primed wood panel
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Portrait for Human Presence (Dawn of the Dying Citites)
(No 9)
92 x 92 cm . oil, acrylic, collage, pencil on primed wood panel
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Portrait for Human Presence (Young Epilogue)
(No 10)
92 x 92 cm . oil, acrylic, collage, pencil on primed wood panel
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Portrait for Human Presence (Upon This Earth)
(No 11)
92 x 92 cm . oil, acrylic, collage, pencil on primed wood panel
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Portrait for Human Presence (Maximum In Life Not Death)
(No 12)
92 x 92 cm . oil, acrylic, collage, pencil on primed wood panel
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Memory is no small thing.

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