It doesn’t seem fair that one man is able to express himself successfully through almost every medium possible. So is the skill of our very own Aryan Kaganof. Responisble for the controversial documentary, ‘The Uprising in Hangberg’ that screened at the Labia, Kaganof now also has a film festival under his belt. Let’s here it from him; South African film- maker writer, poet, artist and all round master of the  upper-case, one-liner interview…

 

 

 

So…Aryan, who are you?

ME

What are you all about?
LOVE

Why did you choose to study in Amsterdam?
I WAS LIVING THERE

Did you ride a bicycle?
ONLY AT NIGHT

 

Explore the Red Light District? Any happy endings?
THE FIRST TIME WAS QUITE SCARY BUT I GOT BETTER AT IT

What’s your most distinctive memory of your time spent in Amsterdam?
POPPERS

How did those years influence you as a person, as an artist.
MADE SURE THAT I NEVER WANT TO LIVE IN HOLLAND AGAIN



KYODAI MAKES THE BIG TIME – What was the public’s reaction to this? Your first film – is it like your first time having sex? Which I guess is a subjective question, but I’m thinking experimental, unnerving, liberating, a learning experience, a humbling experience, leaving you wanting more ?
SEX SHOULD ALWAYS BE LIKE YOU’RE HAVING SEX FOR THE FIRST TIME


What was your all-time favourite childhood movie? Did you ever listen to the “books on tapes”?
PLAY MISTY FOR ME


How would you describe yourself to an alien?
 SLOWLY

 

Who was your inspiration as you grew up? What did he/she/they teach you?
MY MOTHER. SHE USED TO BEAT ME. THAT TAUGHT ME TO LEAVE HOME YOUNG AND GET MY SHIT TOGETHER.

Who is the most enticing individual you have come across?
MY WIFE

What are you fundamental principles in life?
ONLY LOVE IS REAL

Tell me something
I DON’T HATE. ONLY LOVE IS REAL

In the titles words like “dead, serial killer, waster,  Any particular theme thatàultra-violence, fragments, sharp, uneasy” — flows through your work – film/books/poetry/art?

NO

 

 

What is Art to you?
“ART” IS ONE OF THOSE WORDS THAT HAS DEGRADED IN MEANING OVER THE PAST DECADES. WORDS LIKE “PARLIAMENT” AND “DEMOCRACY”. A LOT OF OUR LANGUAGE NOW IS ENTIRELY DENUDED OF MEANING. ART IS PROBABLY THE MOST MEANINGLESS OF ALL THE MEANINGLESS ACTIVITIES WE PURSUE.

 

In terms of writing – who has been your biggest influence? The Beat writers – Jack Kerouac, Burroughs, Gingsberg, then of course Hunter S, Tom Wolfe – how did they change literature?

I TRY NOT TO BE INFLUENCED BY WRITERS. I DON’T READ A LOT. I ENJOY SITTING IN SILENCE AND DOING NOTHING.


Lady Lazarus – Sylvia Plath; this poem is so tragically beautiful. There seems, well to me at least, to be a very powerful connection between tragedy and beauty. What do you think?
BEAUTY IS HARDER THAN PAIN

It’s the same with pain and pleasure, they are so intertwined. The Snuff Collection you seems to explore this – this arousing fascination with torture. I think it is an extremely primitive feeling and Snuff explores this with reckless honesty. Are you a voyeur?
IT DEPENDS ON WHO I’M LOOKING AT

What did you learn from your time in Japan? How did this influence your work?
THE AESTHETICS OF PACKAGING

What your tastiest meal?
WHATEVER MY WIFE IS COOKING TONIGHT

Where can one find you on a Sunday morning?
I CAN NOT BE FOUND ON A SUNDAY MORNING

Anyone we should take notice of?
GENNA GARDINI

Why did you come back to SA?
TO MEET MY FATHER

If you could stick gum in someone’s hair who would lit be?
I ONCE DID THIS TO A GIRL AND SHE WOULD NOT FORGIVE ME, SO NO THANK YOU

What turns you on?
I LIKE IT ROUGH AND DIRTY AND SWEATY AND STINKY

What turns you off?
MAKEUP

 

interview by: sarah claire picton