Photography above: Damien Bennett for Sunday Style
Name:
Jenny Kee
Where you are from/live:
Blackheath in the Blue Mountains, NSW
What you do:
Designer/Artist
When did you first know you wanted to be a Designer/Artist:
When I was ten years old.
Your latest project:
A New Beginning – collection of limited edition knitwear with Woolmark.
Please tell a bit about this, what were the highs and what were the challenges? How did you overcome these?
Each piece in this collection – A New Beginning – is a limited edition of 50.
The collection references my iconic patterns from the archives made with Italian natural yarn from Zegna Baruffa a 100 percent ‘cashwool’ premium superfine merino wool which is the highest quality in the world and utilises digital knitting technology to create the ultimate modern Australian knitwear.
One of biggest challenges was to translate my multi-coloured handknits into high-tech digital technology.
Working with a great team in Hong Kong and here in Australia and with beautiful wool was a highlight of the project.
Where you find inspiration:
Australian nature and particularly the bush around where I live and Aboriginal art.
Three people that inspire/excite you:
Aboriginal artist Emily Kame Kngwarreye, Sonia Delaunay Vern Lambert and Anna Piaggi
What is your favourite…
Car/bike/plane/boat model: Nothing in particular
Chair model: Rolley Clarke bush chair
Residential space: Where I live now in Blackheath
Commercial space: The Museum of Modern Art in New York – the building provides a seamless backdrop to the art.
Decorative product: My Flamingo Park sand blasted mirrors – made especially for the shop in 1973.
Functional product: My father’s (nearly) 100 year old wok and my mother’s collection of cleaning cloths.
Handmade good: My Jenny Kee knit.
Mass-produced good: My check flannel shirts.
Item in your studio: My oil pastels
Time of day to work/play: Late and into the night for both
Meal: Anything by Kylie Kwong
Restaurant: Billie Kwong at Potts Point, Sydney
Drink: Fresh green juice with tumeric
Bar: Don’t go to bars
Piece of technology: My phone
Historical figure: Tibetan Buddhist Master – Jamyang Khyentse Chokyi Lodro
Fictional character: Mr Moonface and all the characters from The Magic Faraway Tree by Enid Blyton
Vice: Always running late
Virtue: Faithful friend
What does the term ‘Design Hunter®’ mean to you
Searching high and low for the perfect object
Who are two people you’d call Design Hunters®?
Anna Plunkett and Luke Sales from Romance was Born as they are always looking for the perfect designers and artists to collaborate with.
Jenny Kee