Amy Winehouse’s story is not unfamiliar. Her enormous success and tragic death have been the subject of much discussion, but her music and immense talent will forever be remembered. However, the depth of this multifaceted artist’s career and life is often overlooked.
Soon to arrive at the Jewish Museum in Melbourne, Amy Winehouse: A Family Portrait –an exhibition curated by the Jewish Museum London alongside Winehouse’s brother Alex and sister-in-law, Riva – will delve into the accomplished singer’s life, exploring her influences and the beginnings of her musical career.
“What does come through in the exhibition that I think not many people would’ve known about her was that she had a really close relationship with her family, and that she did strongly identify with that Jewish heritage,” says Juliette Hanson, Jewish Museum Curator. “There’s a cookbook in the exhibition, a gift from Amy’s brother to her. It’s a Jewish cookery book because she wanted to learn that. Apparently, Amy would use quite a few Yiddish sayings just casually, so she really did identify with that part of her culture.”
Ornaments and children’s books retained from Winehouse’s childhood are also on display at the exhibition alongside her record collection and most treasured guitar. Photographs show the strong sense of family Winehouse held, while a wardrobe full of the singer’s own items pays tribute to her status as a fashion icon. There’s even a soundtrack comprised of songs from Winehouse’s own mixtape, loaded with everything from The Offspring to Ella Fitzgerald.
“She was incredibly dedicated to being the best performer she could be, and that skill had been developed from a really early age,” says Hanson. “The exhibition is punctuated with quotes from an application letter that Amy wrote when she was about 14 or 15 to the Sylvia Young Theatre School. It’s a very mature and quite amazing piece of writing about a young person’s aim not to be famous at all, but just to be the best at what they see as their talent.”
Winehouse’s talent truly is undeniable. Fans, critics, and music aficionados continue to praise her musical ability, including one of the foremost names in the Australian music industry, Mushroom Group CEO Michael Gudinski.
“It was just tragic, everything about it,” says Gudinski. “I wouldn’t normally be talking about someone that I’ve met a few times, but I think it’s a great thing that the family are showing the real side of this girl, and I think what the Jewish Museum’s doing is a great thing. I think it will have a strong effect on what people’s thoughts were versus what she was really like.
The exhibition is both honest and enlightening, portraying a side of Winehouse that has been overlooked in the presence of her personal struggles. It’s something Hanson hopes visitors recognise after seeing the exhibition.
“Towards the end of Amy’s life, there were a lot of very negative images and things written about her in the press. I would hate for people to just think about that when they think about her,” she says. “I think this is the untold story about her. It’s all the positive things about her, and the fantastic legacy that she’s left in terms of her musical talent.”
Gudinski expresses a similar hope for what people will gain from the exhibition, his answer conveying the event’s endeavour to present a true image of Amy Winehouse.
“I think, a) to take away her roots and how it all came together, and b) not for her to be looked at as someone that just went off the rails,” he says. “She was actually a great-hearted, great girl. She’s left her mark, and her music will stand the test of time.”
