13 Questions: Katherine Arianello

by Ouch Team

29th October 2009

Katherine Arianello is one of five talented disabled directors who have created a film as part of The Magic Hour project. The UK-wide scheme showcases films that are bold and portray disability in a refreshing way.

In 'Follow Me on my Journey to Die', Gem (Katherine Arianello) is a young British artist whose work focuses on her struggle to end her own life. Unbeknownst to her fans she has no intention of dying by suicide and is only using the campaign to build her profile.

Katherine's an established artist who has spinal muscular dystrophy. She studied at St Martins College before graduating with a masters degree in fine art at Goldsmiths College in 2004. Her art focuses on disability and she is heavily involved with the right to life movement.

She adores dogs and Lucy, her pet chihuahua stars in the film as Tinkerbell, was present at the interview. However, Katherine answered all the questions herself.

Not a lot of people know that ...

As a child I won a competition to come up with an original design for a 'cleaning teeth' campaign. I drew a picture of toothbrushes in a queue with the caption 'is your toothbrush unemployed?'.

I struggle with...

Nothing! Having to present myself and my work to people who don't know me makes me feel nervous but there's a reward at the end.

I really don't like...

Football. I hate it! It brings out aggression in people and it's a dull game. It requires very few brain cells to kick a ball round.

The best piece of advice I would pass on is ...

Whatever you do in life - be consistent. Go with your idea even if you're not that confident. I was shortlisted for the Adam Reynolds Bursary for disabled artists. I wasn't awarded the fund but I learned from it.

I want to ban ...

The pointless bureaucracy surrounding disability (direct payments for independent living etc) and being asked repeatedly to justify my needs. It's so time consuming - I'd rather focus on art.

My ideal dinner guests would be ...

Ellen DeGeneres and Jodie Foster. I'd probably be more of a curiosity to them than they'd be to me!

I couldn't live without ...

My computer - I despair if the internet is down. I become incredibly agitated as it's the one thing I can do independently from anyone else.

My first job was ...

The first work that I had shown was at the London Disability Arts Forum (now defunct) in 1989. It was really colourful - cut-outs of disabled people looking cheerful! I also used to do disability cabaret as Sick Cow and sang a song about Dial-a-rides.

Where do you spend most of your time?

In my studio, which is basically in my lounge, in front of the computer doing stuff. This might be editing films or working on new ideas. I'd like to make another film for The Magic Hour.

My favourite food and drink are...

Champagne to drink. I always go for things on the menu which are soft and mashable as I can't chew very well. I would go for sea bass followed by a cheeseboard. I'm a foodie and love cooking for people whatever their needs.

What hasn't been invented but should be?

A robot that would do anything that I needed it to do (wash my hair, walk the dog etc). It would also be intuitive to my needs and beautiful and mean that I didn't have to have PAs all the time.

If I ruled the world...

I would get a team of people who would do it for me - while I lived a life of luxury.

The future for me is...

I don't think too much about the future, I tend to go day by day. The way things are already is very good, but ideally it would consist of having copious amounts of money so I don't have to worry about funding my extravagant lifestyle.

• Find out where The Magic Hour are holding screenings during November 2009.

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