WATKINS, Denys, 1945-
Encounter of the Third Kind (Painting)
Recalling Stephen Spielberg’s 1977 science
fiction blockbuster Close Encounters of the Third
Kind with its title, this large acrylic painting in
ice-cream colours seems spookily familiar
Maybe it is the vapid expression of the neatly
coiffed fellow at centre? Resplendent in his walk
Denys Watkins, Encounter of the Third Kind 2008, acrylic on linen,
1825 x 1525mm, The University of Auckland Art Collection
shorts, sweatshirt and oversized
sneakers, he seems proud to
show off his hosing styles in the
foreground. With his oversized head
and tiny arms, he seems an earthly
manifestation of something weird
and otherworldly. He is way too
alien to belong to the same species
as the legions of smiling Dads who
deploy garden equipment in the
hardware store catalogues that
populate the mailbox around
Father’s Day. Despite his attempt to
win us over with a grin, we can only
pity him his lack of water pressure,
as the thick sinuous snake of green
that he grips overpromises and
underdelivers.
