Jim Whiting

Who is Jim Whiting?

Jim Whiting is a British artist and inventor. He was born in Paris and spent his early childhood in Salisbury, Zimbabwe before returning to the UK with his family in 1959. He studied Electronic Engineering & Systems Control at Queen Mary College and then sculpture at Saint Martins School of Art after a foundation at High Wycombe Art College.

Whiting's first major installation was in 1979 at The Hayward gallery in London, His Business Machine was chosen by artist Helen Chadwick as part of the summer show. Other shows of his animated figurative works followed, including Purgatory at British museums, galleries and festivals, and Heavenly Bodies on the roof of the Royal National Theatre in 1981. He received International recognition in 1984 after his robot-like sculptures were featured dancing in Herbie Hancock's music video for Rockit directed by duo Godley & Creme, winning the first MTV Video Music Award for Best Art Direction.

Whiting's Mechanical Theatre was commissioned in 1987 by Andre Heller for his Luna Luna art/amusement park in Hamburg.