Born in Lahore, Pakistan, and raised in East London, Butt was British South Asian, Muslim by upbringing, and Queer. A contemporary of the Young British Artists, and their peer at Goldsmiths’ College, London, Butt was described by art critics as epitomising the new ‘hazardism’ in art of the 1990s, as his works often imply physical risk or endangerment.
Before his untimely death in 1994, aged 32 of AIDS-related complications, Butt had completed and shown four major sculptural works; Transmission (1990) and the three-part installation, Familiars (1992), as well as leaving behind writings, drawings and plans for new installations. Butt’s work offered a potent and critical response to HIV/AIDS, while opening up new dialogues between art and science to explore themes of precarity, toxicity, the spread of viruses, homophobia and racism – issues that continue to resonate with frightening poignancy today.
RELATED EVENTS:
Thursday 19 June, 6.30-8pm: Panel Talk - Art, AIDS and Activism with Positive East
Thursday 10 July, 6.30-7.30pm: BSL Tour: Hamad Butt
Thursday 17 July, 6-9.30pm: Whitechapel Lates: Daytimers
Thursday 24 July, 6.30-8pm: Panel Talk - Fears and Familiars: The Art of Hamad Butt
Tuesday 5 August, 10am-12pm: Relaxed Hours
Thursday 7 August, 6.30-7.30pm: Audio description tour
Thursday 14 August, 6-9pm: Baesianz x Whitechapel Gallery takeover