Suitcased Memorabilia: Rennie Ellis
I first met Rennie Ellis in 1995 with my then business partner Jason Buesst. Jason and I were planning a stage production at Mietta’s on artist Aubrey Beardsley. Somehow it ended up that Rennie came on board to shoot the publicity images for this project which eventually appeared in the now defunct ‘Not Only Black & White’ Magazine. Both Jason and I recruited other talented crew for the shoot: legendary millinery Peter Jago was to be art director , Jane Ormond executing the make-up and hair and Rennie’s amazing partner, Kerry Oldfield to sculpt a giant phallus and draw the background illustrations.
Casting was the next thing to knock over. We had to match talent that at least resembled the characters in Beardsley’s black and white erotic drawings. Jason had also done a period-style modelling shoot for “NOB&W” with Carolyn Bock (then a popular model and dancer) that was shot at Mietta’s by my cousin, photographer Bronwyn Kidd. Then through my acting connections, we recruited the talented actor Antony Neate together with the late Sarah Dixon (Rose) and a marvellous red-headed midget whose name escapes me. The shoot was done at Rennie’s 1st-floor corner studio on Greville Street and it took hours and hours to set up. Jago and I were fanatical about detail as was Rennie. He was up and down the ladders, adjusting lights as Jason charmed and chatted with Manuela Furci, Rennie’s long time assistant. The final results were stunning are selected images were published in ‘NOB&W’ almost immediately.
Rennie also came along to our media performance of the site-specific production of D. H. Lawrence’s adaptation of ‘Lady Chatterley’s Lover’ along with Fred Schepisi, Lady Primrose Potter and other notables. In no time at all, Jason and I were faced with Rennie eager to shoot images from the show. Carolyn and John consented after being given final approval on the shots and Rennie’s hero image of literature’s most famous two (naked) lovers appeared in ‘Who Weekly’ a week later.
The very last time I saw and chatted with Rennie when he was dashing about in the foyer of the State Film Centre, I was working for Popcorn Taxi. He was flustered about something but in high spirits.. He founded Brummel’s Gallery of Photography, Australia’s first dedicated photography gallery, established both a photographic studio and an agency dedicated to his work, published seventeen photographic books and held numerous exhibitions in Australia and internationally. He died suddenly after suffering a cerebral haemorrhage at the age of 62, well before his time.
I admired and respected him enormously, his prolific and ground-breaking work provided many insights into the Australian social and cultural landscape. Now, when I come across the Beardsley images, stored in an old suitcase, I can’t help but smile. As time goes by I am absolutely certain that Rennie Ellis will be remembered as Australia’s most eminent social documentarians. His work is held in the permanent collections of the NGA. NPG and NLOA (Canberra), the NGV (Melbourne) and the Art Gallery of South Australia.
