Stylishly dressed in a black pencil skirt and fitting top with horizontal red stripes to match her lipstick and an armload of bangles, Jacqueline Fahey depicts herself as both glamorous and compelling in this painting.
She is literally in full flight, proudly and adamantly declaiming, words flying out of her mouth fully formed as bright peacocks. Her ringing tones, like the clink of ice cubes in the glass and the clatter of bracelets on her arm are irrepressible.
Her husband, prominent psychiatrist Fraser McDonald, raises a hand to the first bird as if to touch or tame it, but control is beyond him. He frowns in concentration: it seems his cool analytical mind, symbolised by the orderly green vertical stripes on his shirt, is no match for the passion and wild creativity that flows from his wife. She turns her back to him and towards the hearth which she has decorated with flowers and art, representing a beautiful home.
A gin label collaged onto the surface of the painting and the knife-edge sharpness of the angled view of table on which the bottle stands shows us the catalyst for domestic dramas.
Far from being an oppressive husband, Fraser McDonald was given a Suffrage Award in 1993 for coining the phrase "suburban neurosis". Assisted by his politically aware and articulate wife, he pointed out that many women were unhappy with traditional roles and using "mother's little helpers" to get through the day.
Drinking Couple: Fraser analysing my Words was painted in 1978 when Fraser was Medical Superintendant of Carrington Hospital and is now in The Department of Psychiatry.
It is currently on display in the Gus Fisher Gallery as part of an exhibition to celebrate the publication of Something for the Birds, Jacqueline Fahey's memoir, published by Auckland University Press. The book will be launched at the gallery at 5.30pm on Wednesday 19 April.
