Interview
Koos Van der Wat
Koos Van der Wat (b. 1985) is a multi-media Artist from Johannesburg, South Africa.
Kossy World is the conceptual culmination of his vision to introduce an alternate paradigm to this planet, filled with a new set of cultures and attractions. His aesthetic intent is to provide tangible experiences from this other world, whether it is walking amongst Super Excellent Silos, wearing a Neptunist pendant or watching a Uranus Televisie film.
Through the process of painting, many of the symbols and structures arise that inform this vision. The paintings serve as windows to an intricate quantum reality that exists outside of human perception. Whether on the macroscopic or microscopic level, they are like snapshots of this ever-flowing electromagnetically animated dreamscape.
He is the grandson of the Artist Hannatjie Van der Wat, who sparked his interest in personal extra-terrestrial experiences after she gave him her friend Elizabeth Klarer's book 'Beyond the Light Barrier'. The idea that strange propulsion systems might be possible inspired in him the eventual quest to develop the 'T-Mac' hypertechnology.
He has collaborated and exhibited with many Artists and at competitions such as Sasol New Signatures. In 2018 he completed a residency at Chateau Orquevaux Residency in France. He has also appeared in multiple international commercials and designed the logo for the popular US alternate music channel Artzie Music. As a guitarist he was a fixture in the Gauteng underground rock scene with Havoc Vultures and Black Pimp'n Jesus among many other projects.
What is your background and how did you start your journey in the art world?
“I was born in Johannesburg, South Africa and studied Visual Communication in Pretoria. After college I played in two rock bands (as a guitarist) between these two cities. It was during this era that I had the vision of the Super Excellent Silos, which pulled my attention into a completely new direction. I started painting new forms and symbols as if they had been installed into my brain. From there on, I felt compelled to decipher the code of this Silo civilization. I started selling work online, participated in various group exhibitions and hosted my own conceptual events.”
What inspires you most?
“The quest to resolve the mystery of the Silo civilization keeps me perpetually inspired by almost all topics, because I have to apply and combine so many various fields of interest to refine the vision. Everything from architecture and agriculture to politics, sport and entertainment stimulate me to further develop the project. I am also particularly inspired by video games and the scope of creativity that can be applied through them, so I've started working on a game that encompasses all the ideas of the Silo Civilization in an interactive form.”
What themes do you pursue? Is there an underlying message in your work?
“The relation between utopia vs. dystopia is a common theme. Growing up in a city where the Central Business District has decayed significantly in my lifetime, and driving through the country and witnessing the extensive poverty, has had an influence on my utopian concepts such as the Ubuntu Tower and the Neptshwane Federation. The aim of the NU World AnthroSolar Civilization is to provide a brand new and easily understandable alternate perspective of this planet, and unlock new 'hyper' technologies such as the 'T-Mac' transportation system.”
How would you describe your work?
“I would describe the overall classification as Exoteric Paleo Futurism, because it is essentially about proposing a new civilization that combines ancient and futuristic concepts. It revolves around a codex I've designed called 'the Grid of Nature', which is linked to the monuments of the parallel world and whose symbols can be seen in the paintings.
The paintings can be described as Hyperdimensional Art, because they are like shamanic invocations of the abstract and chaotic realm containing the particles of the Grid of Nature.
The Grid is also linked to the Planets of Neptune and Uranus, from which the philosophical system of Neptunism and the edutainment corporation of Uranus Televisie are derived. The other planets are incorporated into the 'Chakra-Sapien', which is the classification of humans in the parallel world paradigm.”
Which artists influence you most?
“Johfra Boschart and Dan Seagrave are two painters whose technique and surreal landscapes I admire. The space artist John Harris inspired in me a grandiose sense of scale, and I really enjoy Robert Crumb's work. My grandmother's work and my early exposure to topics like Ancient Egypt and Futuristic Japan through her travels had an influence on the eventual aesthetic propensities of the AnthroSolar Civilization, particularly discussions around the character of Imhotep and when she brought us the original Nintendo Famicom console and other robot toys from Tokyo.”
What is your creative process like?
“I would describe my creative process as 'defragging'. It feels as though I am constantly de-fragmenting the cosmic signals and trying to make sense of them through painting or designing the parallel world. I usually dive deep into whatever facet is nagging me for progress or completion the most.”
What is an artist’s role in society and how do you see that evolving?
“Besides providing aesthetics, an artist's role in society is to challenge or stimulate the status quo, or provide visions of things and places that people have not seen. We essentially provide new experiences and perspectives.”
Have you had any noteworthy exhibitions you'd like to share?
“My recent collaborative exhibition AFRIKA 3000 at Lizamore galleries in Johannesburg was a good opportunity to explain the econo-mystical structure of the NU World to the attendees. One of the most peculiar synchronicities during a show was when I did a series of works about Yahweh/Creation and on the night of the event, Johannesburg was hit by a giant sandstorm, which is extremely rare. I had asked people to dress up as ghosts, so wading through this relentless sandstorm in these outfits was quite suited to an exhibition about an ancient desert storm god.”
Website: www.kossyworld.com
Instagram: @kossyworld
