Music
The artist has worked extensively with Björk, FKA twigs and Arca.
You may not know his name but you will have definitely seen Jesse Kanda's intriguing, highly recognisable style of art - grotesque human forms and alienesque faces in shades of black, red and pink.
Japanese-born, London-based Kanda is best known for his works with musicians Björk and FKA twigs, in particular Björk's music videos for Mouth Mantra, Arisen My Senses, the cover art of Björk's Utopia and FKA twigs' cover art for LP1.
The music video director, visual artist and musician is currently in Australia for the CLIPPED Music Video Festival as part of VIVID Festival, and we decided to probe Kanda's mind about how he gets the inspiration for so many of his bizarrely unique works.
How did you get into music video directing?
I’ve always enjoyed creating. Music videos are awesome because you get two full senses at once.
Your work has a very entrancing, often haunting quality; what kind of art and aesthetics are you influenced by today?
Mother Nature is the big one! I’d say I resonate with art that’s especially genuine to its creator. When they’re not afraid to show their insides and give me courage and awe.
Who are your favourite visual artists?
There are so many artists I feel moved by so I’ll just say a couple that are fresh on my mind: Leonora Carrington and Taiyo Matsumoto.
How do you bring an idea in your mind to life - do you sketch out ideas, write notes, make moodboards?
It’s a back n forth between the child and adult in me - the child plays and adult judges. In creation the child is much more present. They propel each other forward until the thing moves me and it feels strong enough to live on its own.
Where is inspiration most likely to strike for you?
I try not to wait for inspiration now. I start and it happens. Even when I’m not actually making something I’m always incubating. So maybe I’m never not inspired?
You create many sculptures of alien-like, surreal children - do you have an overarching concept for creating these almost macabre human forms?
Just to be true to myself, I guess is what everything I do has in common.
You also make music as doon kanda, how does your creative process differ when writing and creating music compared to making art?
It doesn’t! Only different tools.
Jesse Kanda will present a keynote as part of CLIPPED Music Video Festival this Friday 1 June, in addition to appearing on a panel on Saturday 2 June.
Visit Jesse Kanda's website here.