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Biography
David Faithfull is an artist, printmaker, illustrator and curator. He publishes Artists’ Book, Prints and Multiples under the Semper Fidelis imprint.
Much of his work focuses on the natural environment, through Palindromic and Panoramic forms and sequences.
The ‘Palindromic Landscape’ was conceived by Faithfull to interpret a particular aspect or scene, from diametrically opposing viewpoints or emotional states, regularly incorporating locally sourced oak gall ink. These explorations, often representing the topography of the Hebrides, have been translated into numerous Artists’ Book collaborations and prints since first being exhibited in Verona in 1997. They have subsequently evolved into collaborations with Scottish writers, their text providing an additional antithesis or counterpoint to the visual thesis.
These include publishing ‘Jura’ with the poet John Burnside in 2008, additionally featured as a visual synthesis in Polygon's 'The Spirit of Jura' with writer and psychogeographer Will Self.
Other publishing collaborations include the Gaelic Arts Agency’s ‘An Leabhar Mor’ interpreting Uist poet Donald Macintyre’s words and ‘Centum’, in collaboration with poet Ken Cockburn for the Scottish fund managers Baillie Gifford.
Additional projects involve curating the highly acclaimed exhibition ‘Inkubator’. This revolved around the problematic nature of Artist’s Books, where the actual handling and curatorial presentation of these works, are often in conflict with their integral conception.
He has exhibited extensively and has work in collections including Tate Britain and the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art, as well as numerous private collections and is currently on the Boards of Edinburgh Printmakers and the SSA.
Research
Title: Curatorial research exploring the genre of Artists Books: investigating how a curator can make Artists Books more accessible to a wider public and influence the viewers’ experience of a particular book or collection?
INKUBATOR 2
Durham Art Gallery and DLI Museum: 12.09.09 – 18.10.09
Conceived and curated by David Faithfull
Funded by Durham Council: Direct funding to DF: £4600.00
Type of Output:
Art, Media, Visual Studies
Sub Theme
Curation as practice
Word & Image
Artists’ practice-led research
Large scale art and design projects
Collaborators including:
Baltic, Gateshead
Charlottenborg Kunsthall, Copenhagen, Denmark
David Risley Gallery, Copenhagen and London
Globe Gallery, Newcastle
Vane Gallery, Newcastle
Eagle Gallery, London
Locus+, Gateshead
Edinburgh Printmakers
Bookworks, London
James Acord, USA
Gary Goldstein, Israel
Noreen Grahame, Australia
Frans Baake, Netherlands
Martin Bell/Paul Coldwell, UK
Borbonesa, Brighton,UK
J L Williams, Edinburgh, UK
Angus Boulton, UK
Louise K Wilson, UK
Gerald Laing, UK
Title: LANDSCAPE COLLABORATIONS
JURA
Published by the Scottish Book Trust
Funded by Arts and Business, The Scottish Book Trust and The Jura Distillery: Direct funding to DF: £11,300.00
Collaboration and residency on the Jura Malt Whisky Writers’ Retreat with poet John Burnside, relating to the Landscape, its history and the Gaelic place names
Collaborators:
John Burnside
The Scottish Book Trust
The Jura Distillery
Research Theme:
Art, Media, Visual Studies
Sub Theme
Word & Image
Artists’ practice-led research
Title: THE SPIRIT OF JURA
Published by Polygon
Funded by Birlinn and The Scottish Book Trust:
No direct funding to DF
Practice led research into collaborative publishing processes between visual artists and writers, with specific focus on landscapes, both rural and urban, particularly the concept of a Palindromic Landscape
Collaborators:
John Burnside
Will Self
Janice Galloway
Bernard Crick
Romesh Gunesekera
Ken Cockburn
Scottish Book Trust
Polygon
Birlinn
Research Theme:
Art, Media, Visual Studies
Sub Theme
Word & Image
Artists’ practice-led research