Interview by Giulia Rossini
(Dan Kitchens is also featured in issue #3 of Fluffer Magazine — here!)
Hallo Dan, I knew you since long time ago as part of the artistic/real life couple called Kozyndan. Under this name, you and your wife Kozy create amazing and detailed drawings, murals and sculptures.Your artistic work has always dealt with wild life and a magical authentic relation between the human beings and nature. Have you always had this passion for feeling “the Nature” around you or is it something born from your many exotic trips?
I think that I have always been interested in the majesty of nature. Admittedly though, it has become more and more enticing to me as I mature. The city, and the creations of people seem more flawed, and less perfect to me the more time i spend in a city. Nature always seems more pure, more perfect. I am drawn to that I really want to kind of express that to people I know who are confessed “city folk”, people who fear the outdoors and think that human culture, and nightlife, and going to the hottest party, and all the idiotic shit is so important. I doubt they would ever get what i am trying to communicate to them, but at least i tried.
I know you have a real passion for photography and particularly for the underwater shots. (Dan has recently edited a book People underwater composed by his best underwater pictures). Could you explain what does water represent for you?
I feel HAPPY in water. I feel happiest in water, or between a woman’s thighs. Those are my favorite places to be. Haha. I think water feels very free and magical to me. Floating in the ocean – being weightless, feeling small, and feeling like i can go in any direction. Its an intense thing. I feel calm in water. I feel calm holding my breath. Its like being in the womb again. I don’t know if its true, but it perhaps it is a truly instinctual connection to our time spent developing in our mother’s belly. it is a fact that when we go under water, we have an instinctual mammalian response – our heart rate slows. There physiological changes that are akin to meditation. Since I don’t have a general fear of water, I am only left with this other feeling of peace and wonder.
Here on Fluffer, we have the privilege to see some of your (secret) erotic photos, taken in places that are really close to heaven imaginary… Are you inspired more by the suggestive surroundings you travel in or by the model/the friend/the wife you share your trip with?
I think there is a lot of things at work here, and it depends on where I am or who i am with. It is always happening on a lot of levels all at once and I don’t separate one feeling from the other – feeling small compared to the majesty of nature, feeling attracted to Kozy, literally wanting to have sex with her because i see her stripping for me on a deserted shore, feeling the therapeutic calmness and freedom that comes from skinny dipping – these are all different feelings, that come through in seeing nature and nudity through the lens of my camera. I love all these things. They are separate but I am attracted to all these sensations.
Are you excited (read: horny) when you take these pictures?
I think in the exact moment of shooting i am too concerned with the technical aspects of making a good image to worry about my cock. Just before, or just after I am aroused by the scene, and particular later on when i edit the images and get to spend time with the captured moments, SEEING the resulting image makes me horny for sure. I should mention though that there are rare moments when I am shooting casually with someone i have real feeling, and we are kind of chatting and taking a break where I am shooting lazily as we talk. I feel no pressure in these moments and I realize WHERE I AM and WHAT I am Doing and WHO I am doing this WITH, and then it hits me how fortunate i am. This can literally give me a boner. Hah. Usually I am photographing friends, or lovers, not professional models, so sometimes those moments are very fluid. I can go from being observer to being a participant and a photo shoot can melt into sex.
Have your lovely wife Kozy influenced your idea of eroticism or you have just met “the right one”?
My understanding of eroticism revolves around her personality a lot I think. My idea of eroticism matured as I have matured – and that process all took place since we got together. We started dating in our early 20’s! We have experienced so much together since then. Kozy’s eroticism comes from her personality – there is a strength in her, a confidence. She understands herself. She knows what physical parts of herself are beautiful. She knows how to get pleasure in bed. Because of all this, there is an easy grace about her. She does things and doesn’t question it. There are certainly sexual acts I desire that are of no interest to her, but when it comes to being aroused by watching a woman move, approach me, touch her self… the closer a woman gets to the casual confidence kozy has in sexual self, the more erotic they are likely to be.
Could you give me The Secret for fully living the eros with your partner DESPITE the long time you are together? Do you think eros is necessary for the wellbeing or is it more an artificial hype in these times of individuality and loss of values? Thank you for your patience and for sharing with Fluffer these great photos.
I wish I could! I don’t think there is a secret that applies to EVERYONE. I think that each combination of people has a different dynamic, and thus each relationship needs to have its OWN rules. Our strategy to maintain passion together might be a recipe for disaster to another couple. For instance we are not monogamous. We allow each other to indulge in other partners. It kind of amazing to still have the excitement of a NEW partner, and new experiences. That is something i think people can miss when they are with one person too long – we allow each other to keep seeking out those thrills that we want as much as we can. I don’t recommend that for everyone, but we have been together over 15 years and counting, so maybe it keeps things HOT for me and her at least.
Dan Kitchens | tumblr | buy photos
Kozyndan | tumblr | flickr
