Aryan Kaganof is incendiary.
www.kaganof.com www.kaganof.com/kagablog/
His films, poetry and novels are exquisite, candid and shocking….It would be Journo-transgression
to turn this interview into anything else but what it is now. My questions, His answers.
Crude and honest. I’m a big fan of honesty, and so is Aryan, I found out.
Here’s a snippet of my interview with this extraordinary individual whose name is not even Aryan. A friend, an inspiration, a bit of a mystery.
Check it yo
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 anything
I DON’T HATE. ONLY LOVE IS REAL.
From 1992 – 2009 -à some significant global changes – how has this influenced you, and your work?
THOSE IN THE MIND WHO THINK THEY HAVE A MIND ARE NOT IN THE MIND BECAUSE THE MIND HAS NO TIME.
I have to be honest; I have not seen any of your films.
HONESTY IS ALWAYS THE BEST POLICY.
In the titles words like “dead, serial killer, waster, ultra-violence, fragments, sharp, uneasy” –à Any particular theme that 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. What is it to you?
In terms of writing – who has been your biggest influence? The Beat (Generation) 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 seem 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 MONRING.
Anyone we should take notice of?
GENNA GARDINI
Why did you come back to SA?
TO MEET MY FATHER.
If you could play a game of pool with anyone who would it be?
MY WIFE.
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
Tags: amsterdam, Art, artist, Aryan Kaganof, kyodai, love, sex
