Camille Henrot

Camille Henrot is a French contemporary artist, born in 1978, whose interdisciplinary practice spans video, sculpture, drawing, and installation. Henrot’s work explores the complexities of human behavior, technology, anthropology, and cultural histories. She blends personal inquiries with broader cultural and historical references, creating art that is both intellectually engaging and visually captivating. Henrot is known for her ability to intertwine diverse themes such as mythology, religion, science, and psychology, reflecting on how these narratives shape our understanding of the world.Henrot gained international acclaim with her video work Grosse Fatigue (2013), which premiered at the 55th Venice Biennale, where she won the Silver Lion for promising young artist. Grosse Fatigue is an ambitious 13-minute video that attempts to tell the story of the universe’s creation, blending encyclopedic knowledge with poetic narrative. The video juxtaposes imagery from the natural world, scientific collections, and everyday life, accompanied by a spoken word narration that layers creation myths with modern digital overload. This piece exemplifies Henrot's interest in how information is accumulated, organized, and understood in the contemporary world.Another significant project is her series The Pale Fox (2014), an immersive installation that delves into themes of order, chaos, and the human need to classify and make sense of the world. Drawing from anthropology, mythology, and her own personal experiences, Henrot filled the space with a vast array of objects, images, and texts, creating an overwhelming environment that reflects the tension between structure and disorder. This work, like much of her practice, investigates how humans create meaning and navigate the overwhelming flow of information and objects in the digital age.Henrot’s artistic practice also delves into human psychology, particularly how emotions and personal experiences intersect with broader cultural narratives. Her ongoing series of drawings, Monday, humorously and critically explores the anxieties and frustrations of modern life. These works often depict anthropomorphized figures caught in absurd situations, highlighting the tension between the desire for control and the inevitability of chaos in daily existence.Henrot’s work has been exhibited at major institutions worldwide, including the Palais de Tokyo in Paris, the New Museum in New York, and the Kunsthalle Wien in Vienna. Through her interdisciplinary approach, Henrot continues to challenge viewers to reflect on how they understand the world, their place within it, and the often overwhelming flood of information, myths, and technology that shape contemporary life. Her ability to connect personal and universal themes has solidified her as one of the most important voices in contemporary art today.