Jenni Hensler Explained

Jenni Hensler
Occupation:filmmaker, creative director, visual artist, costume designer, fashion stylist

Jenni Hensler is a multidisciplinary artist based in New York City. Her work spans analog filmmaking, photography, costume design, and experiential installations.[1] [2] [3] [4] Hensler initially gained recognition in the fashion and music industries for styling fashion editorials for American Vogue,[5] Vogue Italia,[6] Elle,[7] Interview,[8] and i-D,[9] and for her role as costume designer for artists like Chelsea Wolfe,[10] [11] Zola Jesus,[12] and Marissa Nadler.[13] Her handcrafted costumes and wearable sculptures have been showcased at the Museum of Modern Art and Guggenheim Museum in New York, as well as the Museum of Contemporary Art in Los Angeles.[14] [15] [16]

Since 2017, Hensler has concentrated on her own creative work, creating art films, directing music videos, and continuing to incorporate costume into her art. She was credited as creative director on a short film produced by Stella McCartney and David Lynch titled Curtains Up, as part of a project funded by the David Lynch Foundation, to highlight the power and effects of Transcendental Meditation.[17] Hensler also created "Garden of Ants," an art film that explores themes of innocence and abuse, with an original music score by Chelsea Wolfe and Alex Zhang Hungtai of Dirty Beaches.[2] She was the fashion director for techno DJ Black Asteroid's video "Tangiers," featuring Michèle Lamy, the wife and muse of fashion designer Rick Owens.[18] Hensler has directed music videos for artists such as Zola Jesus, Chelsea Wolfe, and Liz Lamere, the long-time collaborator and wife of Alan Vega of the synth-punk duo Suicide.[19]

Visual art

In 2017, Hensler presented her first art exhibition, a multi-sensory live installation at New York's James Fuentes Gallery, titled Persona Somnia I (Latin for "Dream Persona"). The exhibition featured Spanish performance artist María Forqué suspended from the ceiling by intricately knotted shibari ropes, accompanied by an ambient soundscape.[20] [21] [22] Hensler described it as "a visual, sonic and tactile exploration of a kaleidoscopic, fragmented self as it merges into a whole," and elaborated that "the exhibit explores the act of viewing as a reciprocal one... We experience ourselves as living mirrors of each other."[23]

Hensler is also a creator of art films, including Garden of Ants, a work exploring themes of innocence and abuse, with an original music score by Chelsea Wolfe and Alex Zhang Hungtai of Dirty Beaches. Her work in this medium has further expanded into a blend of film, performance, and installation art. She often incorporates her costume design into these projects, blending different artistic disciplines into visual narratives. Prior to her exhibition at James Fuentes Gallery, Hensler shared a residency space at the Park Avenue Armory, where she developed new work and expanded her artistic practice.

In addition to her art films, Hensler is a published photographer, working primarily with 35mm film. She takes candid portraits of people, often in black-and-white or highly saturated monochromatic colors, using dramatic chiaroscuro lighting techniques. This can be seen in the series of a portraits she did for the July 2019 issue of Nasty Magazine.[24] Her photographic work was also featured in the second issue of We Understand the Future magazine from Basel, Switzerland, in September 2024.[25]

Directing

Hensler has directed several music videos, including "If I Could Breathe Underwater" by Marissa Nadler,[26] "The Fall" by Zola Jesus,[27] Moondog's "High on a Rocky Ledge" (performed by Kronos Quartet and Ghost Train Orchestra),[28] "Lights Out" by Liz Lamere,[29] as well as videos for Johnny Based ("Virus"),[30] Liz Lamere ("Sin"),[31] and November Girl ("Beam Me Up").[32] She has also served as creative director for a photo shoot for Red Bull Music Academy.[33]

Costume design and styling

Hensler's costume and styling work can be seen in numerous music videos by a variety of artists, such as in the Chelsea Wolfe videos for the songs "Carrion Flowers,"[34] "16 Psyche,"[35] "Flatlands,"[36] [37] "Spun,"[38] and "Be All Things,"[39] and she has created stage costumes for Wolfe's concert tours and festival appearances.[40] [41] Hensler costume designed and styled the Zola Jesus videos for "Dangerous Days,"[42] "Seekir,"[43] [44] "Hunger,"[45] "Nail,"[46] [47] and "Exhumed,"[48] and the Marissa Nadler videos for "Blue Vapor" and "Dissolve," the latter of which was produced for Pitchfork.tv.[49] In addition to those, Hensler styled the electronic musician Black Marble's video for the song "Cruel Summer,"[50] Australian electronic act HTRK's video for the song "Chinatown Style,"[51] indie pop band Lower Dens' video for the song "Real Thing,"[52] and the video for the collaboration between Dutch composer Jozef van Wissem and American filmmaker-composer Jim Jarmusch for their minimalist classical music piece "Etimasia."[53] She appeared in the Chelsea Wolfe video for "Spun,"[38] and in the HTRK videos for "Chinatown Style"[51] and "New Year's Day," which was directed by collaborator Nathan Corbin.[54]

Hensler has been a crew member on a number of independent narrative films as well, including as the costume designer on the short film The Puppet Man, which features horror-film director John Carpenter, and which was screened at the 2016 Sundance Film Festival.[55]

Influences and vision

The vision behind Hensler's art, films, and installations draws on and incorporates elements of diverse eras, visual traditions, and movements, such as magic realism and dark surrealism, esoteric and occult symbology, Japanese minimalism, ancient Egypt, and classical mythology, as various Greco-Roman motifs, shapes, and silhouettes appear throughout her work.[56] She describes herself as being inspired by the Jungian concept of archetypes that inhabit humanity's collective unconscious, and she has said, "Creating a dream world in the waking world is a major part of what I like to do," "[m]ixing dreams with reality... One of my passions is to create ways to take others into this place. To open a part of the psyche and create a dream-like psychedelic experience which connects everyone using minimal elements." According to one fashion commentator, Hensler "creates wearable works of art, melding mysticism and ethereal beauty with the strict order of natural science."

Hensler favors an aesthetic that projects female power, mystery, and eroticism. The looks she created as a designer and stylist alternate between or juxtapose voluminous dresses, cloaks, and sleeves with bare skin and tight-fitting pieces, and she has made wearable sculptures from wood, metal, PVC, and leather, often paired with large-sole boots or shoes, and accented with headpieces, veils, and jewelry.[57] [58] She has created wearable sculptures using LED lights[59] and has hand-painted directly onto fabric as well.[60] She has been said to create esoteric, "borderline-spiritual looks [that] seem to draw inspiration from the occult, fetish wear, and fantasy." Her designers of choice, who serve as influences on some of her signature looks, include Thierry Mugler, Maison Margiela, Yohji Yamamoto, Rick Owens, Ann Demeulemeester, and A.F. Vandevorst.[61] [62] [63] [64] [65]

Notes and References

  1. News: September 19, 2019 . Interview: Jenni Hensler – Persona Somnia . https://web.archive.org/web/20190420223844/http://beautifulsavage.com/culture/jenni-hensler-persona-somnia/ . dead . April 20, 2019 . Beautiful Savage . Brooklyn, NY . April 30, 2015 . Ahren, Anna E..
  2. News: October 9, 2024 . Jenni Hensler Explores The Effects Of Abuse In a New Short Film Featuring Music By Chelsea Wolfe . . New York, NY . October 5, 2020 . Janz, Madeleine.
  3. News: September 19, 2019 . Chelsea Wolfe shares "Iron Moon," contributing to visual artist Jenni Hensler's new work w/ Zola Jesus, Azar Swan & more . . Brooklyn, NY . April 28, 2015 .
  4. News: September 19, 2019 . Stella McCartney Unveils Film 'Curtains Up' on Transcendental Meditation . . New York, NY . August 21, 2018 . Medina, Marcy.
  5. News: September 19, 2019 . Drag Kings . . New York, NY . March 8, 2018 . Phelps, Nicole.
  6. News: September 19, 2019 . Realm: The story of a royal family from the ancient world . . Milan, Italy . May 28, 2014 . Elstone, Jeff P. and Black, Madeleine.
  7. News: September 19, 2019 . Backstage Pass: Zola Jesus . . New York, NY . February 28, 2012 . Davis, Rebecca Willa.
  8. News: September 19, 2019 . Wolfe Eyes . . New York, NY . October 20, 2011 . Kaplan, Ilana.
  9. News: October 14, 2024 . Chelsea Wolfe's New Album Is Pure Gothic California . https://web.archive.org/web/20200129013900/https://i-d.vice.com/en_us/article/59bkea/chelsea-wolfes-new-album-is-pure-gothic-california . dead . January 29, 2020. . London, UK . July 28, 2015 . Way, Mish Barber.
  10. News: September 19, 2019 . Chelsea Wolfe's New Album Is Pure Gothic California . . London, UK . July 28, 2015 . Way, Mish Barber.
  11. News: September 19, 2019 . Chelsea Wolfe: The Modern American Poet . Flaunt . Los Angeles, CA . September 13, 2019 . Gulyan, Armine . October 16, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221016151932/https://flaunt.com/content/chelsea-wolfe . dead .
  12. News: September 19, 2019 . Zola Jesus On Going Pop And Getting Away From Civilization . . New York, NY . September 29, 2014 . Leas, Ryan.
  13. News: September 19, 2019 . Blue Vapor . Marissa Nadler Music YouTube channel . August 7, 2019 . Marissa Nadler.
  14. September 19, 2019 . Night Life: Zola Jesus . . New York, NY . June 8, 2015 .
  15. News: September 19, 2019 . Zola Jesus Shows Off A New LED Collar at Her Guggenheim Performance . . New York, NY . May 14, 2012 . Kaganskiy, Julia.
  16. News: September 19, 2019 . Air: Jenni Hensler . Ace Hotel Official Blog . New York, NY . June 29, 2014 .
  17. News: September 19, 2019 . Curtains Up . StellaMcCartney.com . New York, NY . August 22, 2018 .
  18. News: September 28, 2019 . New Black Asteroid Video is a Battle Royale with Dark Forces from MPC Creative and Timothy Saccenti . Little Black Book . New York, NY . September 8, 2017 . MPC New York.
  19. News: October 17, 2024 . Liz Lamere Shares Video For "Lights Out" . Ghetto Blaster . New York, NY . March 10, 2022 . Johnson, Tommy.
  20. News: September 26, 2019 . Persona Somnia I – Diamante con Suspencion . Office Magazine . New York, NY . April 26, 2017 . Guzman, Ivan.
  21. News: September 26, 2019 . Maria Forque and Filip Custic "Patafísica: Suspensión, Fragmentación" Exhibition at James Fuentes Gallery, New York . . Paris, France . April 25, 2017 . Esther, Pola.
  22. News: September 26, 2019 . Maria Forqué . Coeval Magazine . New York, NY . April 19, 2017 . Lee, Sunny.
  23. News: September 26, 2019 . Now Viewing: Maria Forqué + Filip Custic . Opening Ceremony . San Francisco, CA . April 21, 2017 . Scarabelli, Taylore.
  24. News: September 27, 2019 . Zola Jesus in conversation with Anca Macavei . Nasty Magazine . Milan, Italy . July 15, 2019 . Macavei, Anca.
  25. Wolfe, Chelsea. Guest Curator: Chelsea Wolfe . WUF We Understand the Future . Basel, Switzerland . WUF We Understand The Future . September 1, 2024 . 2 . 52 . November 5, 2024.
  26. News: October 7, 2024 . Marissa Nadler – "If I Could Breathe Underwater" . . New York, NY . September 14, 2021 . Leas, Ryan.
  27. News: October 13, 2024 . Zola Jesus – "The Fall" . Stereogum . New York, NY . May 18, 2022 . Leas, Ryan.
  28. Web site: Ghost Train Orchestra & Kronos Quartet: "High On A Rocky Ledge (feat. Marissa Nadler)" . youtube.com . Kronos Quartet YouTube Channel . en . video . June 29, 2023.
  29. News: October 17, 2024 . Liz Lamere Shares Video For "Lights Out" . Ghetto Blaster . New York, NY . March 10, 2022 . Johnson, Tommy.
  30. News: November 2, 2024 . Virus . Johnny.Based YouTube channel . October 28, 2020 . Johnny Based.
  31. News: November 2, 2024 . Sin . In The Red Records YouTube channel . May 20, 2022 . Liz Lamere.
  32. News: November 2, 2024 . Beam Me Up . November Girl YouTube channel . November 11, 2022 . November Girl.
  33. News: September 19, 2019 . Voices From Within: The World of Zola Jesus . Red Bull Music Academy Daily . Cologne, Germany . August 31, 2017 . Mejia, Paula.
  34. News: September 19, 2019 . Watch: Chelsea Wolfe – "Carrion Flowers" Video . . Los Angeles, CA . June 24, 2015 . Roberts, Christopher.
  35. News: September 19, 2019 . 16 Psyche (Credits listed under the video) . Sargent House YouTube channel . August 14, 2017 . Chelsea Wolfe.
  36. News: September 19, 2019 . Indie Crooner Chelsea Wolfe Rocks Her Rad Goth-Glam Style . . New York, NY . December 14, 2012 . Chelsea Wolfe.
  37. News: September 19, 2019 . Flatlands (Glassroom Sessions) . Sargent House YouTube channel . June 21, 2012 . Chelsea Wolfe.
  38. News: September 19, 2019 . Spun . Sargent House YouTube channel . October 18, 2017 . Chelsea Wolfe.
  39. News: September 19, 2019 . Be All Things . Sargent House YouTube channel . August 14, 2019 . Chelsea Wolfe.
  40. News: September 19, 2019 . Stylist for Zola Jesus and Chelsea Wolfe Plans a Multi-Sensory Immersive Exhibition . Bedford + Bowery . New York, NY . April 21, 2015 . Disser, Nicole.
  41. News: September 24, 2019 . When the Darkness Comes, Keep an Eye on the Light – Tour Diary: Chelsea Wolfe . Flaunt . Los Angeles, CA . October 23, 2014 . Wolfe, Chelsea F.C..
  42. News: September 24, 2019 . Dangerous Days . Zola Jesus YouTube channel . August 28, 2014 . Zola Jesus.
  43. News: September 19, 2019 . Zola Jesus Video Premiere: Seekir . . July 9, 2012 .
  44. News: September 19, 2019 . Seekir . SouterrainTV YouTube channel . July 10, 2012 . Zola Jesus.
  45. News: September 19, 2019 . Hunger . Zola Jesus YouTube channel . January 28, 2015 . Zola Jesus.
  46. News: November 14, 2019 . Zola Jesus is bound in a latex "sensory deprivation bed" in the video for "Nail" . The Line of Best Fit . August 27, 2015 . Day, Laurence.
  47. News: November 14, 2019 . Nail . Zola Jesus YouTube channel . August 27, 2015 . Zola Jesus.
  48. News: September 19, 2019 . Exhumed . Sacred Bones Records YouTube channel . August 3, 2017 . Zola Jesus.
  49. News: October 8, 2019 . Marissa Nadler Performs "Dissolve" in an Otherworldly Session . Pitchfork YouTube channel . September 27, 2016 . Marissa Nadler.
  50. News: September 19, 2019 . Cruel Summer . HardlyArtRecord YouTube channel . October 9, 2012 . Black Marble.
  51. News: September 29, 2019 . Chinatown Style . ghostlyintl YouTube channel . New York, NY . July 22, 2014 . HTRK.
  52. News: September 19, 2019 . Real Thing . RibbonMusic YouTube channel . September 12, 2016 . Lower Dens.
  53. News: September 19, 2019 . Etimasia . Sacred Bones Records YouTube channel . November 11, 2013 . Jozef Van Wissem and Jim Jarmusch.
  54. News: November 5, 2024 . New Year's Day . HTRK YouTube channel . New York, NY . December 21, 2020 . HTRK.
  55. News: September 29, 2019 . Projects: The Puppet Man . Sundance Institute . Los Angeles, CA . January 22, 2016 . August 5, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200805134731/https://www.sundance.org/projects/the-puppet-man . dead .
  56. News: September 19, 2019 . Interview With Zola Jesus . New York, NY . November 6, 2014 . .
  57. News: September 25, 2019 . Jenni Hensler – Visual Stories . https://web.archive.org/web/20190925113419/http://keepwobblin.com/2015/05/jennie-hensler-visual-stories/ . dead . September 25, 2019 . Wobblin' Betty Keeps Wobblin' . Milan, Italy . May 6, 2015 . Giovi, Elisabetta.
  58. News: September 25, 2019 . The Fashion Gone Rogue 'The Baroness' Editorial Stars a Somber Mila . Trend Hunter . Brooklyn, NY . May 16, 2012 . Young, Meghan.
  59. News: September 27, 2019 . Vertigo . OfficialCreep YouTube channel . September 3, 2013 . Creep feat. Lou Rhodes.
  60. News: September 24, 2019 . Zola Jesus: What would your id look like? I wanted to wear mine on the outside . . New York, NY . April 4, 2018 .
  61. News: September 25, 2019 . Fall Back . Sacred Bones Records YouTube channel . August 29, 2013 . Zola Jesus.
  62. News: September 25, 2019 . Zola Jesus X Reverie. GM Reverie Official Blog . Santa Clarita, CA . August 19, 2017 .
  63. News: September 25, 2019 . Chelsea Wolfe – Part I . StyleZeitgeist . New York, NY . September 28, 2015. Rabkin, Eugene.
  64. News: September 25, 2019 . Chelsea Wolfe – Part II . StyleZeitgeist . New York, NY . September 29, 2015. Rabkin, Eugene.
  65. Book: Schwartz . Michael . 2018 . A.F.Vandevorst: Ende Neu . 364 . Cannibal Publishing . 978-9492677259.

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