"By far one of the best yet..."

The Exhibition of paintings Exhibition Group A at the Centre Gallery was by far one of the best exhibitions of New Zealand painting to be displayed in Wellington. There were six painters that made up the group, namely, Robert Bassant, Elva Bett, Betty Clegg, Catherine Duncan, Vera Jamieson and Bonnie Quirk. All painters with varied yet mature conceptions of contemporary painting.

Perhaps the most interesting paintings were among the seven exhibited by Catherine Duncan. All of her paintings consisted of simple block forms of colour on a plain background with, often, the effective use of line to complete the work. Catherine Duncan has only been painting seriously for eight years but out of these there has evolved a unique and effective style. Her aims are. in her own words, "to explore the deeper aspects of external reality . . . this involves me in a considerable degree of abstraction in order to communicate my personal vision of the basic forms in landscape and figure." As displayed by the works on show her aim has been fulfilled. Rocks and Water consists of a grey background with two blue and one black centregal block-forms with a dark grey line to balance the work. Forms against Light is a blue background, a yellow circular form with two black forms superimposed vertically. The final effect is impressive in that distance and depth are achieved with light adding to the effect.

Betty Clegg says she is "very interested in collage" but evidence appears to show a rather timid approach. Her paintings on show are semiabstracts and expressionistic, with very little use of collage. Good use of colour and movement give interesting but not very exciting paintings.

Vera Jamieson's seven paintings on display are also extremely interesting. Her aims are: "To abstract essential forms from landscape, figure and still life, and to present in paint or clay strong, simple statements of its reality, as I see it." To a certain extent she has achieved this remarkably well. In the works on display she has concentrated on yellows, lemon, cream and browns. Texture) is thinner and lighter than that of Catherine Duncan's work and although both have concentrated on similar (though not wholly alike) forms there is considerable difference in styles and techniques displayed.

Elva Bett's work is completely different again and tended to be more personal and natural. She has made considerable use of sombre colours and a thick impasto effect. There also appears to be a Paul Old's influence in the form and colour. Her work however does show considerable feeling.

The most experienced painter is Robert Bassant who has studied in Rotterdam as well as New Zealand. Although in his paintings he has made use of deep colours (with a predominance of blue) and an effective use of light, there lacks any real life in his work. He concentrated on expressionism rather than a pure abstract to achieve his "statement of human experience."

The youngest in the group is Bonnie Quirk whose paintings display a certain mysterious quality in the extensive use of deep oranges, with greens and yellow-greens (especially in House in Landscape III). In Wharves she has obviously been influenced by the furniture shop painter, Bernard Buffet, and the result is disappointing.

The exhibition was on the whole extremely enjoyable and interesting and it is exhibitions of this sort that will awaken in Wellington the interest in contemporary painting which has for so long been buried under the weight of the Kelliher and the Academy. —M.J.R.G.