Here Marti Friedlander has created an iconic image of two important New Zealand artists. She captures something of their friendship, together in the living room of fellow artist, Alan Maddox (1948 -2000). Tony Fomison (1939 -1990) and Philip Clairmont (1949 -1984) shared a studio in the early 1970s. This is one of a series of documentary photographs Friedlander made of New Zealand artists from 1977 to 1979. Although image records one particular moment, it also speaks eloquently of the character of these two bohemian artists. Friedlander was born in London, studied photography at Bloomsbury Technical School and worked as a photography studio assistant in London. In 1957 she travelled through Europe, photographing people and places as a visual diary. Friedlander arrived in Auckland with her New Zealand husband, Gerrard, in 1958. During 1963 she travelled to Israel, lived in Tel Aviv and studied Hebrew. On her return to New Zealand she began taking photographs full-time. She was awarded the Companion of New Zealand Order of Merit in 1999.