Digital snow dissipates into industrial plumes of smoke foregrounded by a hazy sun-kissed grassland. Mounds of barren gold-dust emerge from the surface, translating into geometric layers of brick and mortar. A gritty aesthetic echoes the abrasive undertone of the urban landscape. Johannesburg. Articulated in a multiplicity of entangled narratives, the journey begins.
Crystalline purple shimmers punctuate the features of a deep reverberating voice. The story of Ghost Kat (Manthe Ribane) is constructed through the spoken words of the narrator Bhubesi (Khaya Sibiya). Vernacular phrases are scattered in the otherwise English dialogue, locating the work in both a local and global context. The emotionally charged narrative, traces the pulsing undercurrents of city life through Ghost Kat’s semi-fictioned experience.
The film intersects and draws parallels between Japanese and Zulu mythology, especially in relation to anthropomorphic identity. Initially inspired by Hagakure – a warrior code of the samurai – which describes the cultural responsibilities associated with being entrusted with messages. London based musician, Okzharp equates it being, “custodians of other people’s dreams”. This notion materializes within the filmscape.
Manthe’s inter-disciplinary and multi-faceted performance is seamlessly articulated. The journey of Ghost Kat, embedded in a surreal landscape resonated closely with her own experience. “Johannesburg is the mother of my dreams”. Through the collaborative process she began unearthing “more of the future, but the future is now”. In some ways this sentiment underpins the perception of Johannesburg as a liminal space in the midst of the “shivers of time”. A city which “reflects and relates on a constant loop”, but is rooted in the present moment.
The fourth chapter of the episodic film is set to be released on the 1st of September as a music video for Sizzr – a collaborative piece by Okzharp ft Manthe. She describes her experience of the dance as “trancing into the music” while mesmeric movement takes hold. Ghost Kat appears clad in hypnotic silhouettes; black ridged garments emphasize every motion against a red-brick wall. This amplification of physicality is heightened by Okzharp’s musical mastery.
His atmospheric soundtrack and the immersive experience of navigating the city, were the foundations of the visual album. The project spanned two and a half years, in which time the collaborative masterpiece was woven together. Director, Chris Saunders, recounted how the film was made almost, “entirely over the internet” as many of the contributor are peppered around the globe. In spite of this geographic difference, an incredible cohesion and nuance exists between the auditory and visual experience.