STUART WHIPPS: Birth Springs, Death Falls

About

Flat Time House opened its adjoining flat as a permanent residency space earlier this year. For his first solo show in London, Stuart Whipps presents an exhibition of work made while in residence. Stuart spent his time at FTHo researching the archive material from John Latham's Artist Placement Group (APG) placement with the Scottish Office Development Agency between 1975 and 1976. This also involved a visit to the shale bings of West Lothian - Latham's object of study during his time in Scotland. Stuart's exhibition maps the connections between Latham and other historical protagonists including James Paraffin" Young, who was the first to refine mineral oil on a commercial scale. This process left behind the shale heap bings of West Lothian and financed David Livingstone's "explorations" of Zambia - Latham's birthplace. Stuart's complex project involving photography, installation and text aligns multiple histories and geological monuments with the contemporary moment.