We Are [Kultrated] & These Are Our Art Books

Can you start by telling us a little bit about yourself?

We’re partners in life and in our small business. By day, Helfie works as an audiovisual technician, and Syilah is rooted in the hospitality world. Outside of our day jobs, we run Kultrated – a project born out of a shared obsession with art that lives on the fringes: demonic, morbid, occult-inspired, and unapologetically chaotic.

 

Are there certain themes, formats, or visual styles in art books that you’re instinctively drawn to?

We’re drawn to dark, rebellious, and emotionally intense work – demonic, morbid, occult, chaotic. We gravitate toward dark figurative art, unsettling photography, and black metal-inspired aesthetics. We’re especially interested in books that showcase lesser-known or underground artists – voices that haven’t been overly exposed, but are creating raw, powerful, and boundary-pushing work.

 

 

Tell us a bit more about Kultrated. What is it and why did you start it?

Kultrated is an extension of the world we’ve always lived in – one rooted in underground expression and outsider art. Before books, we were making noise in underground bands, running a DIY record label, and distributing music that didn’t fit the mainstream mold. That spirit naturally evolved into a new form: collecting and curating art books that explore the darker, more complex side of visual culture: black metal aesthetics, dark figurative art, underground photography, and anything that speaks to a sense of beautiful unease.

We see ourselves as curators of pandemonium – drawn to the margins where the forbidden, the raw, and the untamed reside. It’s at these jagged edges of visual culture that we find beauty in chaos and meaning in disorder, where creation often rises from destruction. What started as a personal collection slowly evolved into something we felt compelled to share. Our aim isn’t just to sell books and zines; it’s to create a space for others who are drawn to these same shadows – a place where they feel seen, inspired, and connected to a broader underground current.

 

You've made an exhibit at home! Tell us a little more about what you've chosen to show.

When the media team came to film, we saw it as the perfect opportunity to create a Kultrated pop-up event at Hellahhaus, a mini exhibit that reflects our journey and passions. On one side, we set up a full black metal altar, a shrine to the underground music that shaped us, filled with rare zines, magazines, posters, and a curated selection of our favourite bands’ rare cassette releases. An old TV loops music videos from those bands, adding an atmospheric, living element to the space.

 

 

Opposite that, we displayed the art books and zines we’ve evolved into curating—works that share the same spirit of rebellion and darkness but expressed through visual art and photography. Alongside these, we included original artworks by underground artists we’ve discovered through our online networking and travels. The exhibit is really a dialogue between our past and present, showing how our love for underground music naturally expanded into a deeper exploration of dark, alternative art forms.

 

Have you ever regretted buying or not buying a book/zine?

We appreciate every discovery we've made and don’t have any regrets about what we've bought. Each piece in our collection holds its own story and meaning for us. As for the ones we didn’t manage to get, we trust that they’ll find their way to other collectors who will value and cherish them just as much. In this world of underground art and zines, there’s always a sense of community and shared appreciation, so it feels less about missed opportunities and more about the ongoing journey of discovery.

 

What’s a hidden gem in your collection?

We have a few books that we quietly treasure – ones we find ourselves returning to often. Terryworld by Terry Richardson is a bold yet strangely intimate exploration of 20+ years of fashion and celebrity photography. It captures Hollywood through a hyper-stylised, raw lens – bold, brash, and loaded with irony. It feels like a chaotic love letter to pop culture, filtered through Richardson’s unapologetic aesthetic. Heim, mir reicht’s by Blalla W. Hallmann feels entirely different: expressive, surreal, and almost confrontational in its emotion. Hallmann’s outsider energy and graphic storytelling make it unforgettable. Then there’s En studie i grått by Ragnar Persson, a quiet, haunting collection of graphite drawings that pull you into misty forests and mythic dreamscapes. Each of these books resonates in its own way, and together they reflect the emotional and visual range that keeps us inspired.

 

What is the earliest and latest publication you acquired?

The earliest piece in our collection is a DIY xerox zine from our black metal days called Satanic Warfare, made in 2006 by a close friend. It was hand-assembled and shared only within our underground circle, filled with band interviews, personal takes on the scene, and unapologetic opinions on black metal culture. It’s raw, honest, and a reminder of where our journey really began.

The most recent addition is The Art of Ryan Heshka Collection, a beautifully curated celebration of pulp-inspired surrealism and bold, retro-futurist visuals. We also recently featured a mini zine called Demons, which we picked up from a small old bookshop in Paris. It was part of our pop-up event at Hellahhaus, where it found a new home with one of our visitors. For us, part of the joy in collecting is also in sharing – passing on pieces that resonate to others who will appreciate them.

 

What do you generally look for at an art book fair? Do you have tips for navigating the space/exhibitors/content? (E.g. browse everything first before committing; always bring cash; shop alone vs. with friends)

When we visit art book fairs, we’re drawn to the unexpected – those eye-catching, out-of-the-ordinary works and creators who resonate with our vibe of rebellion and dark beauty. It’s about finding sparks that feel like kindred spirits in a sea of art.

As for navigating the space, we recommend taking it slow and savouring the experience. Queues can get long and the atmosphere warm, so stay hydrated and keep an eye on the fair’s Instagram to gauge the crowd and queue in real time. The space is vast, often filled with countless exhibitors. If you have favourite exhibitors in mind, check the brochure map first and plan your route thoughtfully.

 

 

Our best advice is to walk through the whole fair first, letting your eyes wander and making mental notes of what calls to you. This way, you give yourself room to breathe and resist impulse buys, allowing the most meaningful discoveries to find you.

 

Images by Pixie Tan

I Am [  ] & These Are My Art Books is an interview series by Thing Books that explores what makes an art book matter through the shelves of those who collect, read, and live with them.