Who is Janne Kearney?
I am a 61-year-old overweight starving artist. I was born the youngest of five and raised in a commission house in Geelong, my mother died on Christmas eve when I was 9 years old, my upbringing was tough. I met my husband when I was fifteen and we were never apart until his untimely death in 2021, he was my everything.
What would you do differently from what you do now?
I’m a self-confessed true crime addict. If I weren’t an artist, I would like to be a forensic psychologist, those people are freaks, the way they can predict even the smallest details of a killer just by looking at a crime scene.
Who inspires you and why?
There’s not so much a who, but a what… Injustice! Pretty much in any form, but particularly against minorities and women. I find it difficult to shy away from speaking up or narrating it in my work one way or another.
What would you do to make a difference in the world?
Continue shining a light on injustice through my work. One of my paintings was censored on American TV (Good Morning San Diego). It was a tiny painting, 30 x 30cm, titled Me too, it was my reaction to the me-too movement. For such a tiny image it obviously had a very big impact on someone in the US media when it was removed from the wall during the TV interview about the work.
Favourite holiday destination and why?
Anywhere spending time with loved ones is always wonderful and my happy place.
When friends come to town, what attraction would you take them to, and why?
A drive along the Great Ocean Road is always an incredible experience. More locally a drive around the Geelong Waterfront and finish off with an ice-cream and a ride on the carousel.
What are you currently reading?
I’ve found it difficult to read and retain much since my husband’s passing, I tend to listen to talking books while I’m painting, I’ve just finished Scrublands by Chris Hammer.
What are you currently listening to?
I listen to True Crime podcasts ad nauseum, literally thousands of them.
Happiness is?
Hanging out with my adult kids, sharing food and wine with friends, and painting of course.
What does the future hold for you?
The future isn’t guaranteed for any of us, but all willing, to paint my best works yet!
Janne will present her exhibition, Eye Candy, at the Flinders Lane Gallery: 23 January – 10 February, as part of the 2024 Midsumma Festival. For more information, visit: www.flg.com.au or www.midsumma.org.au for details.
Image: Janne Kearney – courtesy of Flinders Lane Gallery