DAVID HARTNELL: ONE MINUTE INTERVIEW WITH PRISCILLA WONG

Priscilla Wong moved to Ariki Street, Grey Lynn as a small child, amid a very lively and exuberant family of eight. She went to Ponsonby School, AGGS and Elam.

Do you come from an artistic family?

Yes, my Gramps was a self-taught artist. Most of my sibs, nieces, grandnieces and even great grandnieces are outstanding in the arts, which leads me to believe we have an inherited artistic gene from Gramps Wong.

What got you into painting?

I’ve been painting ever since I can remember. I was seven when I did a large self-portrait with a bunch of grass as paints, painting on the school's concrete wall. I was given my one and only strap on both hands by the teacher.

There was always my sister Diana’s paints and Eileen’s fabrics, etc. in the house. No one was ever idle if strict Mum was about! I am nearly always with sketch pad, watercolour set and paper at hand. Sketching or painting my surroundings and people are a record of treasured memories.

Best thing about Ponsonby?

Probably easier for me to say, “Ponsonby was the best". My years at Ponsonby School, the Dutch pie shop at the top pf Curran Street, the fish-n-chip shops, walking along Shelly Beach after school and Point Erin Park.

I will die happy if ..?

If I don’t wake up, because I won’t know that I died.

What would be your dream holiday?

A painting holiday with my French friend Beatrice in Italyfrom Alberobello to Venice.

Where do you see yourself in ten years? Curtains, if they haven’t already dropped, at 93? Yikes!

What do you most dislike about your appearance?

Not fussed about my appearance, reckon it’s what’s upstairs that counts.

If your life was an ice cream, what would it be? Passion Fruit - I have a passion, for many things!

What do you think happens when we die?

I had a serious breakdown at 29, arriving in the emergency room I laughed hysterically and said, “they’re just going to put the shell in the ground,” as I felt my spirit rise and hover around the ceiling and look down at my body. Later, when I told my doctor, he said that I must have been hallucinating, but told me I had a lot of stamina because he’d seen a lot of people who’d gone through what I went through, and they don’t recover. So I'll opt for cremation, and after that experience, perhaps the soul does hang around for a while.

Ever seen a ghost?

Not sure. Might have been a dream; when I was eight and younger, Mum used to sit with me and Trev my brother till we were asleep upstairs above the shop at College Hill. Sometimes I was still awake and my imagination would see huge tumbleweeds rolling through the door - I was terrified that they would fill the bedroom and crush me. Ghostly tumbleweeds?

Favorite hero?

Jack Reacher because he can suss out the bad blokes and leave the town a little safer. A modern day superman.

Which talent would you most like to have?

To sing as well as I used to, though I thank Gramps for the talent I have.

What gizmo can you not live without?

A can opener.

Weakness?

Crispy cream doughnuts… or just food! (I’m diabetic. Hooray for insulin!)

Comfort food?

Jook and pickled pig trotters.

Your dream guest list for a dinner party?

My three art, history, and ceramics professors amid friends and family, because they always have adverse opinions, witty and spirited conversation, and I’m happy to add my impolitically correct two-bits worth, between the laughs.

Travel light or heavy?

Light! Just a carry-on.

Change one law or policy in New Zealand, what would it be?

Lethal injection for mass murderers with automatic rifles.

(DAVID HARTNELL, MNZM)  PN