Kurtz: I've been a fan for a long time. Glad we have a chance for an
interview.
H.: You are quite a mulit-talented artist, but before I get into youractual art I would like to ask you about one of your other
accomplishments. Fire Eating sounds like a very interesting avocation.
How did you get started with that?
K:: Before I became an Alchemist, I painted freaks: sword swallowers,
conjoined twins, etc. I came to realize that in order to paint them, I
had to understand them. I wasn't drawn to swords, contortions...so I
decided to work with fire. The first time I tried it, I stood in my
kitchen with a fire extinguisher and just tapped my hand. The pain was
unbearable when the Everclear would stick to my flesh. Within two weeks,
after fasting and meditating, I was able to go all the way and burn off
portions of my flesh without feeling the burns during the rituals.
H.: I've seen pictures on your site of burns you have received during
shows. It is obviously a dangerous activity, so what precautions do you
take beforehand?
K:: Prayer...in my own way. I meditate and invoke the elemental. There are
no fire retardants, no protection; just heat and my flesh. Other
performers think they are impressive because they can do blasts and toss
the wands in the air (which I do), but I wanted to go beyond and not take
any precautions. Like a shaman, I dissolve into the ritual so as to no
longer feel pain. And if I go too far, I'll become my mentor: The
Buddhist monk who doused himself in gasoline, assumed a position of
meditation and lit himself on fire to protest the war. He didn't scream
or move...he just cooked himself away.
H.: If I may ask, why do you do it?
K:: A way to commune with the Divine. I don't use pain as a catalyst, I go
beyond the pain. My most recent show, the one filmed and on Youtube,
caused such terrible burns I ran to the bathroom after the performance
and doused myself with cold water because I was going to pass out. I
didn't feel any of that during the show. In fact, I had someone come up
and ask what the trick was. When I showed them the blisters that had
already begun to form from the heat, she realized I was telling the
truth. Of course, the scars on my penis would REALLY convince them. But
I've never had to show those.
H.: Oh, well. Yes, all right, on to something else. How long have you
been with the Wolfcult Choir?
K:: Since September of 2007. I had an art show in Houston that was
dreadful and realized that my art career was going nowhere. I had played
drums when I was a kid and when the band lost their drummer, I decided to
give it a try again. I needed to take a break from painting.
H.: For our readers who are not familiar with you outside your of artwork, what type of music does your group play?
K:: Punk/Gothic/Neo-folk. Imagine the look of Albert Speer, energy of
Wiemar Berlin, and the lyrical intensity of Anton LaVey
H.: Interesting. And what is your philosophy on Life?
K:: To know thyself. To drink deep, devour in the presence of nature and
embrace the animal spirit within. To go beyond this flesh into the great
divine through the process of experimentation and wisdom: Alchemy is my
way of Life. Nothing like those stupid books about "picture it in your
mind and you'll get it" crap. Real Alchemy...working with the materials
of flesh, wood, and lead to make gold.
H.: You are also an author. Can you give our readers a synopsis of your
book, "Kill Your God?"
K:: The first portion is done as a diary, divided into 1st and 3rd person
to represent the division in my mind when I was a child. The next portion
is a novel about an Alchemist who raises himself from the grave with
wisdom from the universe. When the world ignores his teachings, he
becomes a fascist and controls others with an iron will. The next section
details my life philosophy. There are also portions of a diary I kept
when I left behind christianity for Satanism, rituals, poetry and samples
of various on-line discussions I had with people who tried to preach to
me about faith.
H.: Do you have any other books in the works?
K:: I stopped writing a few years ago. I've completed 13 books and by the
time you get to that high of a number, you realize that's everything you
wanted to say.
H.: What do you enjoy doing when not working on your many projects?
K:: Making love to my muse, watching classic films, and reading books.
H.: How do you prepare yourself before beginning a new painting?
K:: Instead of using art as a reflection of my beliefs, I decided to use
it as a ritual force. Before each painting, I invoke the Great Serpent,
Ororoborus, and unite the opposites according to the Emerald Tablets.
H.: How long have you been expressing yourself by painting?
K:: 10 years. But I did not realize who I was and the significance of art
in my life until I met my Muse.
H.: Your art is striking and provocative. Standardized question
here--Where does your inspiration come from?
K:: Cin, my muse, is my number one source. She is the Lunar Cycle which I
study in nature...a reflection of the divine serpent that permeates all
life. She is the earth. All seeds are planted in her and results are my
paintings.
H.: Have any other painters influenced your own work?
K:: Gauguin, Hitler, Van Gogh, Bacon, Monet, and Degas.
H.: One of the photographs alongside this interview shows you and Cin at
one of your art shows. How often do you show your art?
K:: Rarely. Most of the places where I show soon shut down or I'm banned.
I've had my work attacked by patrons during shows, which tends to scare
off most people. Some have suggested there is a magical connection
between the violence in those who witness my work and the Alchemical
rituals associated with them: too much energy at one time causing a
disruption in weaker minds. I enjoy watching those who are too crippled
to understand my paintings become thoroughly unhinged in my presence.
I've fought off spit, drinks, knives and those who pick up the paintings
and throw them out of the way because they can't look anymore.
H.: Those are certainly some intensely negative reactions. On the other
hand, you are also the Featured Artist in this issue of Horrotica, and
have been featured in our Art Gallery in previous issues, as well as
having your work on the cover of the very first issue of this magazine.
Where can our readers see even more of your work?
K:: On my web site www.killyourgod.com
