Cj Hendry has mastered the art of the spectacle, installing adult playgrounds and floral waterfalls around the world. For her next trick, however, Hendry’s going small—and hopping on the bag charm trend—by launching her first collectible toy named juju.
Juju will debut later this month in Hong Kong, where Hendry opened a new studio in June. The floppy-eared little critter looks a bit like Hendry’s take on Sanrio’s Cinamaroll, featuring the recurring flower shape from her pool pop-ups over one eye. Juju even has its own lore. “No one quite knows where juju came from—only that it appeared quietly, padding softly into the world with a single flower draped over one eye, as if seeing everything half in magic, half in memory,” press materials state. “Juju does not demand attention or glitter for the spotlight; instead, it invites curiosity—a quiet presence that draws you in.”
“I’ve always been fascinated by the culture around collectible objects—how something playful and lighthearted can also hold meaning and craftsmanship,” Hendry mused over email regarding her latest move. “After years of working on large-scale installations and hyperreal drawings, this felt like the perfect time to explore something more intimate, tactile, and accessible, without losing that sense of detail and obsession that’s at the heart of everything I make.”
juju bag charms. Courtesy of Cj Hendry.
Of course, juju will star in a few spectacles of its own, too. On November 17, Hendry will unveil a Christmas tree crafted from 200 oversized green plush jujus at Upper House, a five-star hotel in Hong Kong. Each one is available for “adoption,” and all proceeds will benefit Mother’s Choice, a local charity that supports pregnant teens and children without homes. A representative for Hendry said this mission “resonated with her deeply, aligning with her belief that creativity and community can coexist to create meaningful change.” Hendry’s Christmas tree will celebrate the holidays through January 2.
Meanwhile, juju, which will take the form of bag charms and vinyl Edition Sculptures, will enjoy a debut outing at Phillips Hong Kong on November 29. Hendry is transforming the auction house’s flagship into a pink juju supermarket. There, she’ll release eight colors of the Edition Sculpture, each with a run of 100 ($629 apiece), plus blind-boxed bag charms in a separate rainbow of 24 hues of varying rarity ($24 each).
juju bag charm. Courtesy of Cj Hendry.
They’ll all congregate around an eight-foot tall Edition Sculpture, as well as a juju drawing in Hendry’s signature hyperrealistic style (both priced upon request). Original Hendry drawings like these are notoriously expensive—her Pink Dahlia (2020) colored pencil drawing was one of the top over-performers in Phillips’s Modern & Contemporary Art online auction this September, for instance, hammering at $61,920 against an estimate of $5,000 to $7,000. She’s also dropping merchandise like plush ears, umbrellas, and leather flower trays at Phillips.
That Phillips takeover will remain on view through December 2. Luckily, if you can’t make it to Hendry’s new hometown in time, the Edition Sculptures, bag charms, and original colored pencil drawing will all be available on her website just in time for the holidays.
Source: Exhibition - news.artnet.com
