David David Kim Whittaker The Fear and the Stable

INTRODUCTION
The fear and the stable. Where do we go to seek
comfort than proof. Carl Jung wrote in ‘The
our own warren to explore, but where some
‘Kim’, a woman. Within the artworld David Kim
solace from the growing fears of the 21 st century?
Archetypes and the Collective Unconscious’;
of the tunnels remain blocked consciously or
is accepting and embracing of this ‘trans’ state.
Are the walls that we look to build around our
“If it be true that there can be no metaphysics
unconsciously. Perhaps, through art these
It is what it is, nonbinary, neither or both, and
‘garden' for privacy or for protection? If we build
transcending human reason, it is no less true that
tunnels can be accessed. Philosophically it
explicitly provides an invaluable universal
them too high they might block out the light.
there can be no empirical knowledge that is not
is an interesting concept that everything we
overarching context to the work. I emphasise
already caught and limited by the a priori structure
experience can inform and indeed change who
universal, it is important to do so, as these
Our objectively focused culture seems ever
of cognition.”
we are, and result in an ever-expanding maze
paintings are for, and of, all of us. Whittaker’s
increasingly obsessed with logical observation
of the self. Like Lorenz’s ‘Butterfly Effect’ which
complexity, integrity and fearlessness offer
and response. Attempting to find simplistic
Allegories of progress have been the lament
proposed that one flap of a butterfly’s wings
a distinctive and original voice. As Friedrich
and relatable conclusions to all the big and
of artists for many years, the Frankenstein tale
can change the weather forever – any matter
Nietzsche wrote in ‘Thus Spoke Zarathustra:
the little unknowns. Much of the world bays
of man(kind) messing with the bigger picture
of stimulus can alter and inform who we are to
A Book for All and None’; “One must still have
for the answers, a greedy grabbing at straws
without fear of thought of consequence. Like a
become. We are all in a constant state of flux or
chaos in oneself to be able to give birth to a
with the hope that we may be led somewhere
small child wanting to pick up the puppy, bones
metamorphosis. Heraclitus argued that change
dancing star”.
better through that knowing, ignoring the fact
can be easily broken, with or without malice.
was ubiquitous; "You cannot step into the same
that we may well be led somewhere worse. For
There are some that watch in horror from the
river twice”. So I can't tell you who I am, or who
These paintings, primarily of the head, illustrate
a powerful flowing current of the many and the
byline, shouting at us to learn some urgent
David Kim Whittaker is, or expect you to be able
a generic duality confined within the human
most, it seems that the mysteries of the universe
humility, waiting for us to grow up and replace
to offer me the same service. It all moves very
condition, both the physical and the emotional
are only ever justified when answers can be
the clumsiness for grace.
fast indeed.
manifested. Primal, archetypal male attributes
clearly pointed at and measurements taken.
transcend into a feminine space. This fusion
When things are proven. Proof – I’ve never
David Kim Whittaker is the quintessential
On the table in his studio is a clipping of a
informs us and allows us to contemplate the
really understood it. For me it never seems to
ontological artist whose whole life has
photograph of Alice Liddell at age 9 (The real
achievement and development of our species.
prove much at all. The true nature of reality
been a dedicated examination into what it
person who inspired Carroll’s book). I ask
Whittaker describes his studio trials as an
is and always has been utterly beyond my
is to be a human being, whilst greeting the
David Kim why the picture sits there, modestly
endless artistic search for something as yet
comprehension. There are few that take comfort
practical impossibility of the task. Instead the
enshrined. He explains: "there she is at the
unseen where the works are born from moments
in the unknowns of the universe, revelling in the
remaining (no small) task has been to catch
start of her life, innocent and clearly full of
of intense creativity where they are pushed as
many questions, knowing that the answers are
the moth in the net for the briefest of moments,
imagination and possibility, alive and looking
far as possible. He finds the window to capture
somehow of less importance. It is in the mystery
accepting that it must once again be set free.
back at you, but now she’s gone and the rest
the image 'relatively short before it disappears
we bathe. My limited understanding of the true
In an early introduction I once wrote for David
becomes a history almost lost - like a trail of
into itself.' Moments of darkness and joy, from
nature of the universe is that everything and
Kim I included the following from Lewis Carroll’s
vapour, but her whispers echo’. Life and its
the cradle to the grave. The weeping, the brave
anything is possible and that nothing is fixed.
1865 classic ‘Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland’;
transience is what David Kim grabs hold of; the
face. The unpredictable nature of being. The
So truth, as far as it can be contemplated by
“Who are YOU?” said the Caterpillar. This was
paintings are a rabbit hole, which can always
complexities of gender. Thought and emotions,
our relatively small intelligence, is that the
not an encouraging opening for a conversation.
be escaped into.
personal and universal – this is what David Kim
metaphysical abstract is more accurate than
Alice replied, rather shyly, “I--I hardly know, sir,
Whittaker describes as ‘the rapture of life’.
measured empirical knowledge. Metaphysics
just at present-- at least I know who I WAS when I
Metamorphosis remains a theme within the work,
continues to ask ‘why’ where much of science
got up this morning, but I think I must have been
but also Whittaker's life (the two are inextricably
The studio walls have recently been cleared of a
halts. It doesn’t even expect the answers. For me
changed several times since then.” The story of
linked). Over the past 10 years Whittaker has
plethora of iconic imagery, which fed the artist's
that is where truth hides, in the acceptance that
little Alice and her journey through Wonderland,
been in a state of physical and psychological
mind and soul and acted as stimulus, creating
‘all’ cannot be pinned down and will, perhaps,
posits the notion that we are what we dream
development since an official diagnosis of
an inner sanctum echoing the mind's eye,
always be beyond us. In the void questions
we will become when open or susceptible. That
gender dysphoria. Outside of his vocation as
this clearing emphasises Whittaker’s growing
and the faith that ensues, offer many far more
identity is ambiguous, internal and ephemeral,
an artist, in the day-to-day, David Kim lives as
trust to draw from within but also to cleanse.
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