Jenny Kee

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Australian artist Jenny Kee is well known for her work in fashion and design. Less known is the story of her chance survival in the Granville Train Crash in Sydney in 1977 - and how this tragic event became a catalyst for her art.

Jenny's story is one of 50 featured in the National Museum of Australia's Eternity gallery. Eternity brings to life the emotions and experiences of ordinary and extraordinary Australians.

Jenny Kee with Roslyn Russell. Photo: Lannon Harley.

In this Eternity series conversation Jenny joins curator Roslyn Russell in a talk about love and loss, survival and renewal.

Jenny and Ros first met while living in the Blue Mountains almost 30 years ago.

Born in Bondi in 1947 to parents of Cantonese, Italian and British heritage, Jenny reflects on her ancestry and her Sydney childhood.

The conversation covers a night the teenager spent with Beatle John Lennon and her expatriate life in London in the 1960s.

Jenny recalls her return to Australia, the inspiration she gained while living with artist Mirka Mora, and setting up her Flamingo Park store with creative partner Linda Jackson.

The store's changing fashion and fortunes are documented, along with Jenny's relationship with her mother, daughter and granddaughter.

Jenny also speaks about her relationship with Danton Hughes and how she sought solace in Buddhism when he died.

This conversation was recorded in the Visions Theatre, National Museum of Australia on 19 August 2007.

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