Photograph of Robyn Fong by Bruno Benini
Object No. 2009/43/1-3/11
Photographic print, black and white, Robyn Fong models for Batika boutique publicity, photograph by Bruno Benini, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 1975
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Summary
Physical Description
Model holds bamboo and rice paper parasol, wears flared pants and long sleeved blouse, hand on [rattan] bag, fashion imported from Malaysian and sold through Batika boutique, Melbourne. Styling by Hazel Benini.
DIMENSIONS
Height
608 mm
Width
508 mm
PRODUCTION
Notes
Photo by Bruno Benini, styled by Hazel Benini. Robyn Fong, Sydney-based Eurasian model working 1960s-1975. No formal training. Joined Viviens model agency, Sydney Worked on shoots for the Australian Wool Board and other clients, and with many models including Nadina Guilfoyle. All carried their own makeup, shoes, jewellery, wigs and hairpieces. Worked with David Mist and Laurie Le Guay (Castlereagh Street studio) and other photographers in Sydney and Melbourne. Worked with Bruno Benini in Melbourne and frequently attended parties held by Bruno and Hazel Benini. Robyn would always endeavour to secure additional modelling jobs when travelling to work on the David Jones and Georges parades in Melbourne. Robyn thinks the model in the Concept for Gala shots at the NGV by Bruno Benini - Lucinda Wills, is possibly Lucinda Wills nee Lucinda Strauss. Visited the Benini exhibition at MAAS in 2010 on the advice of her friend, model Susie Twigg (nee Seaton). There were very few Asian, Eurasian or Pacific region models working in Australia during the 1960s and 70s. Robyn recalls only Nicky Turner an Asian mainly catwalk model, Edith Freeman a Tahitian model, and Emma Heffernan who was from Fiji. These models rarely if ever secured work on local ads like Colgate or Palmolive. Reference: Notes from interview, Anne-Marie Van de Ven, Curator with Robyn Fong, Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences, 29 January 2015
HISTORY
Notes
This object is part of the Bruno Benini photography archive which was acquired by the Powerhouse Museum with the assistance of the Australian Government's National Cultural Heritage Account in 2009. If Bruno Benini particularly liked a shot he'd taken, he would make a print or as Hazel Benini recalled, 'create a blow-up and then put it up on his studio wall'. The walls of the studio foyer were covered with these, mostly 20 x 24 inch, prints. Some of the prints were damaged over the years and thrown out, however many remain, some with corner pin holes intact. The Benini archive contains photographs showing how the Benini's displayed these prints in the foyer of the studio. This may be one of those prints.
SOURCE
Acquisition Date
19 June 2009
Copyright for the above image is held by the Powerhouse and may be subject to third-party copyright restrictions. Please submit an Image Licensing Enquiry for information regarding reproduction, copyright and fees. Text is released under Attribution-Non Commercial-No Derivative licence.
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