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Lee Lin Chin, stylesetter and former broadcaster, was born in Indonesia and raised in Singapore, where in 1968 she began working in television and radio. After arriving in Australia in 1980 she worked as a translator of Chinese language films and with ABC radio in Darwin and Newcastle before joining SBS as a newsreader in 1988, gaining devoted viewers through her stern delivery and superbly-cut tops and jackets. As host of the network's Fashionista program she built a reputation as a style authority, in 2008 curating the National Archives of Australia exhibition of historical fashion photographs, Strike a Pose … With Lee Lin Chin. Known also as a comedian and a voice for social change, she has a huge social media following although she posts little, if anything, herself, retaining an intriguing air of mystery. Among the causes Chin supports is The Social Studio, an enterprise dedicated to creating employment and educational pathways for young people who have been refugees.
Photographer Ingvar Kenne spent a couple of hours with Lee Lin Chin in her friend's painting studio, and they went outside late in the afternoon so he could take 'one last shot' – this one. He recalls 'we all ended up at the pub afterwards exchanging tales.' She is pictured in a dress by Japanese-born Australian designer Akira Isogawa.
Gift of the artist 2006
© Ingvar Kenne
Ingvar Kenne (15 portraits)
On one level The Companion talks about the most famous and frontline Australians, but on another it tells us about ourselves.
April Thompson explores an exhibition of Ingvar Kenne’s global portrait project.
Swedish-born Australian photographer, Ingvar Kenne, captures both individuality and shared human experience in his ongoing portrait project Citizen.
The National Portrait Gallery acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and recognises the continuing connection to lands, waters and communities. We pay our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and to Elders past and present. We respectfully advise that this site includes works by, images of, names of, voices of and references to deceased people.
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