The 4th wall is a theatre term for the invisible wall between performers and the audience. When performers speak directly to the audience it’s considered breaking the 4th wall. As the sociologist Erving Goffman’s dramaturgy suggests, we are constantly performing our identities. The interviews on this page were an attempt to enquire beyond the performativity of self.

“I understand that our sessions are not for everybody and that it’s extreme, so it’s okay for me that some people might think we are fucked in the head.”

— Miss Sophia

“The motifs offer a rare glimpse into the inner workings of The Number, a South African prison gang with a violently enforced code of silence.”

— Luke Daniel, Photojournalist

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"No compassion, no scruples, no sense of empathy—it’s fucking sick to kill these people during the session.

— 3Kreuze

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"The first hit, your mind is full of so many thoughts—mostly you’re thinking: 'Shit, what have I done; what am I doing; I can’t do this'.

— Chris Lemuelu

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"I ended up in the psychiatric division. You know, having drugs every day for four years and then all of a sudden no drugs, I was gone; I was hearing ants fart."

— Johnny 'Halves'

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“I find it quite absurd that as humans we are introduced to this world inside of a body which we've had absolutely no part in its design; why not use body art and modification to adjust the default design so that it can become more us?”

— Touka Voodoo

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“Art doesn’t have to be so serious and cerebral. I think sometimes people forget that it needs to be an experience that makes you feel something, and for us a big part of that is humour and visual stimulation. We often will think of the stupidest most ridiculous concept and work from there.”

— The Huxleys