Current Exhibition Details

 

Bing Dawe - Roundel

This exhibition includes the first sculptures in a series of works based on a narrative entitled 'The Lighthouse Keepers Cat'. The story refers to the premature extinction of a rare endemic species of flightless Wren. This small bird, the Stephens Island Wren- Xenicus Lyalli, was discovered accidently on Stephens Island in the Marlborough Sounds during construction and operation of the islands lighthouse. The lighthouse keeper’s cat killed and delivered the last remaining of these birds to the lighthouse keeper (David Lyall) over a short period of months. The exact account of this story is open for some conjecture (refer Wikipedia-Stephens Island Wren) but it is more the essence of the story that interests me. The elements that I have been exploring and juxtaposing are the cat, the bird and the light from the lighthouse. I am attracted to the irony of the lighthouse as a symbol or beacon to warn against tragedy, when a smaller, unseen tragedy was happening in its shadow. I have been exploring and developing the symbolism of these elements. The first drawings in this series have already been shown in Auckland and this exhibition shows a follow up suite of drawings of this theme and an accompanying departure exploring our smallest and thankfully, still surviving wren, "The Rifleman” or “Titipounamu ". 

The title of the show ‘Roundel’ reflects the predominate circular format and is a reference to the circular motion of the lighthouse light. The roundel is a traditional artistic device. The larger work in this show is entitled ‘You bring light, when my safety is night’ which picks up my initial interest in the ironies of the story (the Wren was a nocturnal bird). A smaller work looks at the play on shadows, while the Riflemen works explore the theme of the safety of the forest as well as reflecting the preciousness of both, by drawing a comparison to jewellery.

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