Known for her wild fashion and performance art incorporating a blend of ritual, blood, chaos, ballet and artefacts, Syban creates visually beautiful and disturbing shows and she brings her latest work to Berlin Berlin on Saturday February 17th at Egg Ldn. Ahead of this show Syban talks about her creative vision and her belief in the power of performance...
An unusual and successful fetish artist, what or who inspired you to go into this wild world?
Myself, I had a vision that I needed to manifest in reality.
How would you you describe what you do and some of its looks quite painful!
A blend of the beautiful and the grotesque, the line where brutality and fragility intersect. A fuse of ritual/costume/dance and …blood.
In aspects of pain, for me it has been a long journey in changing my responses to it. It does not hurt at all…it feels like the greatest surge of adrenaline…to bleed in public to show your insides to the world. It is becoming free of shame and pain actually, complete control over my body and a ritualistic kind of freedom.
Where and when did you start performing and why does dressing provocatively and performing hold such allure for you... and for an audience?
I have always been a performer and started doing ballet and drama at school. I then found my way into the fetish universe and all manners of strange and wonderful events all over the world in my middle teens. I have a natural attraction/connection to horror and the other worldy and surreal, becoming these things feels like a very powerful kind of magic. The allure is in the transformation. I imagine for the audience, seeing it and being transported to some other place is a big part of it.
Sum up what makes an alternative performer?
I am not particularly interested in being branded as this, nor of belonging to a sub-sect, but I guess I would write it as, creating something that makes people stop and think. Something that conjures feelings of both wonder and discomfort.
How do you come up with your outfit ideas and do you have any special designers etc?
The obvious answers, Eiko Ishioka, Alexander McQueen, Iris Van Herpen, Yohji Yamamaoto, Hussein Chalayan. Costume and fashion were my first love, I trained in this, but I particularly fell in love with the performative aspect of it. Making outfits and performing in them was a natural progression.
How important is it for people to have the escape of clubland in this digital era?
Humans gathering together to dance to loud music is a timeless and fundamental form of escapism and human connection. It was important a thousand years ago and will be important forever.
Do you follow any other performers or club kids or performers?
From doing this since I was 15 I have made friendships and had relationships with a host of wonderful creatures, including my best friend - the insanely talented fire and freakshow artist Missy Macabre. I’m also a huge fan of club kid Santi Storm as he has the most beautiful positive energy.
Lastly! What look have you got lined up for Berlin Berlin on February 17th at EGG LDN?
As it’s Valentines time and I’m a romantic! I have a new piece called ‘Blood Queen’ with lots of red jewels that I got whilst touring in south east Asia.
Syban performs at Berlin Berlin on Saturday February 17th alongside Bitch & Party, Gregory Kara, Katrina Darling, Kokaine Tyson, Luke Harris and Ruby Bird at Egg Ldn. Music across three floors from Sisyphos with Fidelity Kastrow, Jonty Skrufff, Yetti Meissner and Kyle E whilst on the Ground Floor Braunbeck, Basti Grub, Eveline Fink, Georgia Girl and Carlota layer the sounds. Homostash takeover The Loft with DJs Tafkanik, Sonniku, Carly Foxx and Pavline whilst in Cell 200 the Kuntskammer Salon lets rip with Lewis G Burton, Kassandra Powell & Guests. All info at www.egglondon.co.uk
We chat to wild fashionista and performer Syban
We catch up with her ahead of her show at Berlin Berlin on Saturday February 17th at Egg Ldn
Published Feb 6, 2018