Airdate: Step Into Paradise

ABC documentary Step Into Paradise celebrates the creative success and friendship of fashion pioneers Jenny Kee and Linda Jackson.

The special by Blackfella Films marks the beginning of the ABC Arts ‘Know My Name’ partnership with the National Gallery of Australia, addressing historical gender bias in the arts.

For the best part of 50 years, Jenny Kee and Linda Jackson have shared a passionate love affair with Australia. An affair that bound them in the most extraordinary and enduring friendship and a creative collaboration that defined a generation. No other creative pairing has had such a lasting impact on Australian fashion, our design identity and our sense of self.

Jenny and Linda embraced the vibrancy of a unique landscape and elevated icons of Australiana tourist kitsch, to the height of fashion and art. They observed this vast country with wit, irreverence and astonishing imagination to create a fashion story like no other. And then they gifted it to the world.

Step Into Paradise is an evocative ride of fame, triumph, tragedy, riches, losses, determination, racism, rebellion, sexuality and heartbreak. It is a story of remarkable highs and deep lows, of women and love. A story of Australia, who we were and who we are today. A gloriously rich visual collage of emotion, art and kaleidoscopic colour. A walk into the dreams of Jenny and Linda. A step into paradise.

As part of the Know My Name partnership, ABC Arts will deliver a vibrant slate of original content across all ABC platforms to celebrate the work of all female artists and to enhance understanding of their contribution to Australia’s cultural life.

Production credits: A Blackfella Films Production. Director and Co-Writer, Amanda Blue. Producer, Darren Dale. Producer, Fran Moore. Co-Writer, Jacob Hickey. Associate Producer, Charlotte Mars.

8:30pm Tuesday October 12 on ABC.

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