Fraser Whiting (he/him)
Fraser Whiting is a contemporary artist who lives and works in Glasgow, Scotland. He is interested in how artists are depicted in contemporary culture and what objects can tell us about the world we live in.
Works
Fraser Whiting’s Undergraduate Degree Show 2022 [Install Images + Press Release]
Press Release
Fraser Whiting
31 May – 12 June
We are proud to introduce Fraser Whiting’s first show with The Gallery.
Whiting is drawing together objects and artefacts that refer to the display mechanisms of
spaces beyond the art institution, whilst critiquing those within it and what constitutes art.
To write about Fraser’s work is to inhabit these contexts and therefore be subsumed into
this meta-consultation with the viewing space and the act of assertion that is calling
something art.
Removing original contexts is a part of Whiting’s process – and so the coconut drink and
calendar are placed out of reach. Plinth-hood is doctrine.
Chroma is important to this exhibition too and Whiting’s paintings allude to subtle
selections, such as off-white. In this vein an academic approach to the activity of painting
also incorporates a trip to Wickes. These works are at once critiques of Modernism, colour
swatches and a foray into retail. The show is both trade fair and high art, with Whitings
paintings cradling objects and shelving that propose our consumership. To engage with
Whiting’s work is to code-switch.
In 1969, Mierle Laderman Ukeles wrote the Maintenance Art Manifesto, in which she
described development as ‘pure individual creation’ and maintenance as keeping ‘the
dust off the pure individual creation.’
Just saying.
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This press release is available in multiple fonts on application. Please submit your request,
stating your preferred font family, in no more than 1000 words.
Outsourcing is a common practice of contracting out business functions and processes to third-party providers. There are many reasons a company/business/individual may want to outsource a particular job, process, or task.
This press release has been outsourced for several reasons:
– When a service is outsourced it allows for the ability to share risks and split responsibilities associated with the service.
– Outsourcing certain tasks to skilled labourers which know the complexities of their field will allow the completion of the task to run smooth.
– Outsourcing allows more time and resources to focus on other aspects of an arts practice, while still meeting the expectations of a viewer in an exhibition space.
The above press release has been outsourced to Dr Zoë Mendelson by Fraser Whiting with the short criteria listed below:
– Minimum 200 words. No maximum word count.
– To be sent as a Word file or PDF.
– No restrictions on what form or content the press release may be.
Shelfie [creative writing]
There’s a riddle about a potato… I have eyes but cannot see.
My perspective of being in this show is muddied by this riddle. It’s hard to take a really good look at the work. And my potato-ness is also in question.
I am a compound noun of a thing. And have noticed new developments in this area. As potatobrush I am attuned to these things and developments of language that affect how I am discussed.
Housebarrassment is one of these compounds – an adjective – coined when we were all looking in at each others’ homes on zoom. I fix nailbarrassment, I suppose.
Last year, when I was still in retail and not yet art, I overheard a conversation about an ad for a jewellery designer. In this ad, the model’s nails were painted to look dirty. She was to be an at-work real-person with to-die-for dirt and gorgeous jewellery. We can all be tidied up for display.
It’s nearly opening time and my shelf is clean. I have no desire to be peered at but understand that this will relieve me from my prescribed purpose. It is unclear how I will, myself, be cleaned and preserved but I am aware that I no longer function as the cleaner and preserver of others. A status change perhaps and certainly a further remove from a potato.
I am not a working dog but a show dog.
Among us, when we were once a litter of potato-brushes gathered for sale, there was a smugness.
We could be dutiful. There were rumours of another type of non-potato, with sticky-out plastic
arms and legs, a hat and an impermanent tongue. It’s a relief to, at least, sit closer to the earth
than that.
Glossary of Terms [creative writing]
Managing Expectations [artist book]
Managing Expectations brings together high-quality images of artworks by Fraser Whiting created between 2021 and 2022, many of which have not been published before.
Managing Expectations also contains an introductory text that is written by the monograph itself, two distinctly different interviews with the artist, a short piece of writing in response to the work of Haim Steinbach, and a comprehensive Glossary of Terms which the artist has provided as a lens in which to view his arts practice.
Managing Expectations is available to buy in-person at The Glasgow School of Art Degree Show and online through contacting studio@fraserwhiting.com
Visionary [painting]
Part of a series of Wall Pieces, where sections of plasterboard are painted with wall paint. The title of the wall paint gives the artwork it’s title. Here the light blue-grey paint is sold by Valspar under the name of Visionary. Affixed to it’s surface is an acrylic plastic card holder for business cards. There are six different designs of business cards, all with the same information on about the artist but each with different imagery hinting at different professions. The business cards are still sealed in their packaging, unable to be distributed but still functioning as advertising.
This Wall Piece is for sale. Please contact studio@fraserwhiting.com to register interest.
untitled (potato brush) [painting]
Part of a series of Wall Pieces, where sections of plasterboard are painted with wall paint. The bright white painted surface mimics that of the gallery space around it, but instead of a grand work of art adorning it’s surface, a common glass bathroom shelf is affixed horizontally to it. From a distance it appears as if a potato is sitting upon the glass shelf, but, on closer inspection it is revealed to be a nail brush with a faux potato design on one side and white prickly bristles on the other.
This Wall Piece is for sale. Please contact studio@fraserwhiting.com to register interest.
Cave Painting [painting]
Part of a series of Wall Pieces, where sections of plasterboard are painted with wall paint. The title of the wall paint gives the artwork it’s title. Here the rich maroon red paint is sold by Valspar under the name of Cave Painting. Super glued to it’s surface is a watercolour paint set by Koh-I-Noor, a typical ‘beginners’ set of paints.
This Wall Piece is for sale. Please contact studio@fraserwhiting.com to register interest.
portrait of a lady [painting]
Part of a series of Wall Pieces, where sections of plasterboard are painted with wall paint. The title of the wall paint gives the artwork it’s title. Here the lilac-purple paint is sold by Valspar under the name of Portrait of a lady. The title is also present on the surface of this Wall Piece in the form of smooth white vinyl lettering in a script font.
This Wall Piece is for sale. Please contact studio@fraserwhiting.com to register interest.
Object Displayed [sculpture]
Part of a series of Podiums, in which gallery apparatus crosses paths with commercial display conventions. In Object Displayed a section of the gallery of the floor is elevated up with objects arranged on top. There is a copy of Haim Steinbach’s book Object and Display with sticky notes sticking out the tops of pages. In contrast to the clearly used book, beside it, there is an acrylic display stand which props up a new, unsealed copy of the same Steinbach book. There is also a mug with an ‘inspirational’ quote on it and an Oreo which has been flattened and stretched out through 3D printing.
This Podium is for sale. Please contact studio@fraserwhiting.com to register interest.
World Clock [sculpture]
In World Clock, an old, used, brown wooden calendar clock which sits proudly on top of a pristine white floating wall shelf. The word ‘MALTA’ is stuck onto the holder of the wooden blocks and presumably indicates the location of where the object was bought and where it records the date for. The date on the calendar clock will be changed daily throughout the duration of the Degree Show.
Please note: This artwork is not for sale. To enquire about available artworks please email studio@fraserwhiting.com
untitled (vitrine arrangement) [sculpture]
Part of a series of Podiums, in which gallery apparatus crosses paths with commercial display conventions. In untitled (vitrine arrangement), a wall mounted with a clear Perspex front vitrine is hung suspiciously low and contains three different objects. A carton of VITA COCO Coconut Water, a small paint chip with the text ‘Ancient Relic’ printed on it, and a scrunched ball of paper which has been made from a sheet of paper with the words ‘paper ball’ printed across it. The three objects are only to be looked at, protected by the Perspex front and therefore safe from change and deterioration.
This Podium is for sale. Please contact studio@fraserwhiting.com to register interest.
untitled (display podium) [sculpture]
Part of a series of Podiums, in which gallery apparatus crosses paths with commercial display conventions. In untitled (display podium) a traditional bright white gallery plinth has had a section removed, which allows the viewer insight into how the plinth has been put together. There is also a clear separation between clean white ‘front’ and empty, unfinished ‘back’. The plinth looks more akin to a display stand seen at trade fairs or in shops with small plastic feet attached to its base. On top of the plinth sits a clear plastic display cube which contains a small bottle, which, in turn, contains the scent of burnt wood.
This Podium is for sale. Please contact studio@fraserwhiting.com to register interest.
