About – Wilf Thust

My work on this website is from 2005 onwards and follows on from work I did as a student 40 years ago. It is a search into shapes, colours, movement and audience interaction.

With shapes I am interested in cut outs, off cuts and negatives, with colours I search for and explore nuances, with movements I reflect on changes and with interaction I intend to encourage the viewer to look closer.

My work is not purely abstract but a response to life experiences.

I take inspiration from plants, landscapes, animals, clothes and from encounters with people.

I am building up a repertoire of work for exhibitions, public and private, and for loans.

1940	I was born in Silesia now Poland.
1945	We fled from the Russians and lived with generous people in Rinteln near Hameln in West Germany until we were
1951	reunited as a family in Diez near Frankfurt.
1957	I finished grammar school.
1960	I finished a foundation course in Design in Wiesbaden.
1961 – 67	I studied Art and Crafts, Art History, Philosophy and Theology at University Mainz.
1968	I worked as a painter near Koblenz.
1969	I completed my teaching qualification and taught art in Bremen.
1971	My daughter Cora was born.
1972	I was seconded to study film in The London Film School.
1974	I co-founded FOUR CORNER FILMS.
1975	I co-created the Film Workshop in Bethnal Green East London.
1976	I worked for University Bielefeld in Germany to research alternative teaching in Oberstufen Kolleg under Hartmut von Hentig.
1978	My son Bob was born
1979	I worked on the first gay feature film “Nighthawks” by Ron Peck.
1980	I set up a Film Workshop with Young People in Tower Hamlets, partly financed by Channel 4 in support of Independent film making. I devised and ran a number of film seasons in Four Corners Cinema.
1985	I finished the film “Is That It” shown at The London Film Festival.
1986	My daughter Louise was born
1987	I became artist in Residence at my son’s primary school in Hackney organised by The Whitechapel Art Gallery.
1988	I took on a full time teaching job at The German School in Richmond London, finally as Head of Art
1989	I moved to Shropshire – but continued to work in London.
2001	I won a “Young at Art” Teachers Award
2001 – 2005	I illustrated posters and booklets for readings of German Writers
2006	I started to work as independent painter/maker/illustrator.

EXHIBITIONS

1967	Wood sculptures and furniture in Mainz / Germany
1969	Paintings in Moselweiss near Koblenz / Germany
1971	Super8 Films with pupils in Bremen / Germany shown 1973 in The NFT / London
1973	16mm documentary “Where is the Gaiety” about Black Youth in Notting Hill Gate, distributed by Concord Films
1976	Co-direction on 16mm films “Railman” and “On Allotments” produced by Four Corner Films
1977	16mm film “OS 77” in defence of alternative teaching in Germany
1978	Lighting camera man in 16mm feature film “Nighthawks”
1979	Cinema Workshop seasons in FOUR CORNERS in Bethnal Green / London “In The Classroom” “Violence In Film” “Music and Film” “Resistance” in connection with The Auschwitz Exhibition
1981	Half Moon Theatre and Cinema Event “Changing Nights”
1982	Super8 film by East End Youth “Don’t think so” and
1983	Video with Young People from Tower Hamlets “Old Enough”, shown in Four Corners Cinema
1985	16mm film “Is That It”, my work with Youth in Tower Hamlets, shown at The London Film Festival
1986	Super 8 and video work with primary school children in Hackney, shown at The Whitechapel Art Gallery
2000 – 2005	Posters and Illustrations to Readings of Living German Writers in The German School London
2001	Teachers Reward for project on “Flying” organised by ‘Young At Art’ / London
2007 and 2009	Studio Exhibitions in the grounds of The Barn Fron Uchaf in Shropshire near Offa’s Dyke
2012	Exhibitions and Workshops “The First” Extensive Exhibition and Workshops at THE WILLOW GALLERY in Oswestry “Ripples” Hangings in Radio Cafe in Oswestry
2013	“Woodline / Lifeline” displayed around artists studio, exhibited at BVA Open Studios Oswestry, newly arranged in Underhill Farm, Pant

1940	I was born in
1959	something else here