User:Marnie04/sandbox

Art Student, new user.

Jenkin Van Zyl
Childhood

Jenkin Van Zyl, was born to South African parents is Surrey in England in 1993. He grew up by a forest so his games of imagination were “all forest-sprite-based" which is where some of his inspiration came from. His childhood was “Totally mundane, like that area is” and life before 18 was “Total sludge”. His imagination and fascination with costume was established at a young age. Halloween outfits prepared by himself and his mother would often involve a “Day-Glo witch” theme.

Influences

Most of his inspiration for his work came from different media and surroundings. Musicians Kate Bush and Grace Jones heavily influenced his work through striking theatrical visuals and dramatic storytelling. Vintage theatre pieces and heavy-duty face paints were worn as everyday attire. His work has been impacted by filmmakers such as John Waters and Julia Davis, who portray outrageous, twisted, and comical characters. Erotic themes in his work have strong ties to queer identity and culture from attending many drag parties in London’s.

Current work/materials

Recent projects have combed film, sculpture, and performance in narrative installations, often incorporating elaborate costume and set. Machines of Love (2021) is set in a casino constructed from aircraft bodies, buried underneath a Viking village, with a six demonic creatures that participate in several ritualistic acts of role play and gambling, although the purpose of their actions was never stipulated. The film builds on the tensions of animalistic human behaviour conflict with technologies.

Education

Slade School of Fine Art in London, then a postgraduate degree in art at the Royal Academy of Arts (2020). At Slade School of Fine Art he created ‘Escape from Fort Bravo’ which was captured in Spain on the ‘Spaghetti Western Film Sets’. At the Royal Academy of Arts he filmed several shows: ‘Honeymoon’ (2018) and ‘Premiums’ (2019)