Skatalites in Bimbotown

The Skatalites played at Bimbotown in Basel in 1994 and their site has a load of photos you can see here, along with the playlist and other details like set list.

Unnatural Bodies

Clip of an Unnatural Bodies show shared by Klaus Littman on Instagram. It’s not clear which of the Unnatural Body shows it is.

Café Table

Found this clip of the Café Table carousell-like machine on Instagram that lifts up as it spins. It looks slicker than the one I remember and the legs don’t seem to stretcg outwards as it spins. Judging by the black curtains I am guessing it is one of his pieces that are part of his Mechanical Theatre installation at the Swarovski Crystal Worlds commissioned by André Heller in 2007 (see more here):

More Jim Whiting Artwork

‘Artwork’ being auctioned here that seem all connected to when collaborating with Basel art gallery owner Klaus Littmann in late 80s and 90s. The collection includes some lithographic prints of Jim’s sketches, what seems like a catalogue-like ‘Report’ of his work linked to Galarie Littmann and copy of the poster by Jean Tinguely from 1988 show at the gallery posted about previously (see here).

Unnatural Bodies by Stuart Clarke (1992)

The BFI Database has a record for Jim Whiting under their reference number 492436: Unnatural Bodies, Stuart Clarke (Director) Wild Dream Films (1992). Can’t find any footage of from it though and given date think it will be of Ars Electronica show.

Original Bimbtown 1993

16 minute ‘Impressions from the original Bimbotown Club in the Alte Stückfärberei in Basel’ video from 1993 by Reto Jeltsch (Bimbo Town 1, Stückfärberei, Basel, Switzerland. Galerie Littmann).

Robodock Festival 2005 and 2007

Couple of video interviews about the installations at Robodock Festivals in Amsterdam in 2005 (Waterbaby II) and 2007 (Jostling Businessmen). The Biog & Show History page also shows there were installations exhibited at Robodock in 2006 (Tapeworm) and 2004 (Wobbly Tower). Haven’t found videos and photos of the shows yet:

Jim Whiting Art for Sale?

I have seen the above artwork for sale or having been sold claiming to be by Jim Whiting on sites like Artnet, Mutual Art and elswhere. I would be fascinated to understand their provenance and not least because one thing I remember about Jim is that he doesn’t really sell his work, other than his big Mechanical Theatre installations for Luna Luna and Swarovski Crystal Worlds both commissioned by André Heller, neither of which seem to be operational any longer sadly. I know he has gifted some of his works including the one I have in the photo below, which needs to be restored so that is operational with the cicuit board I commissioned from Dave Buckley who helped Jim with control systems for his various installations over the years (see below).

Bimbotown Basel 1993

Video from YouTube with the following description that translates as impressions from the Bimbo Town Club in the former Basel garment dyeing factory (Stückfärberei). Also explaining that this was the first version of Bimbo Town running from 1992 to 1994 in Leipzig.

Jim Whiting with Herbie Hancock

Photo of Jim and Herbie Hancock meeting in London in November 2019 (see here), holding photo most likely from around 1984 and connected Rockit music video collaboration.