Return to Beginnings

Birds we have in this current exhibition, Binney's first in Wellington for several years; bitterns - churches we do not. Gone is the bite and social comment. There is little development stylistically or thematically from his earlier work.

Instead these paintings turn inward. There is wry self comment in the pun when Binney, reproducing his successful 1960's formula calls the two bird paintings 'Once Bittern' and Twice Bittern'.

The two series exhibited here, 'Tree of many One', and 'A single field' are studies of a pohutukawa tree and a hillside that Binney sees from his window at Bethell's Beach and knows intimately. If there is no apparent growth in this show, if Binney, indeed, seems to be imitating himself, he is well aware of it. There is a strong element of self-examination in this work and, I think, a return to beginnings. The titles for these two series are taken from Wordsworth's 'Ode on Intimations of Immortality'

But there's a Tree of many, one, A Single Field which I have looked upon Both of them speak of something that is gone:

The Pansy at my feet

Doth the same tale repeat.

Whither is fled the visionary gleam?

Where is it now, the glory and the dream?

Has the 'visionary gleam' departed Don Binney? Will he join those of his contemporaries (particularly I llingworth) who seem to have painted themselves out in the sixties? Will his optimistic birds ever roar again? A sad day for New Zealand if they do not.