'The Art of Self-Harm' Review: Exploring the Extreme Performance Art of White Gardenia!

Cover art for documentary The Art of Self-Harm

Jonathan Doe, best known for his fetishistic and disturbing filmmaking contributions to underground transgressive horror cinema, with the likes of Barf Bunny (see review of Barf Bunny here), The Degenerates (see review of The Degenerates here), Defilement of a Porcelain Doll (see review of Defilement of a Porcelain Doll here), has also been venturing down documentary pathways.

In the works are Going Beyond the Disturbing Movie Iceberg, and If Tree Could Talk: A Conversation with Terry Hobbs. The former explores the viral internet trend, that categorizes and explores unsettling and lesser-known films, and sick video clips, often delving into obscure and disturbing cinematic territory. The later follows Terry Hobbs a man who gained notoriety in connection with the West Memphis Three case, a controversial legal saga involving the wrongful conviction of three teenagers for a triple murder in West Memphis, Arkansas. Hobbs is the stepfather of one of the murder victims, and his role in the case has been a subject of scrutiny and debate.

Currently, Doe’s documentary titled The Art of Self-Harm, follows the lives and works of the extreme performance art collective, White Gardenia, whom are no stranger to these pages – and the world – due to the tireless efforts of Severed Cinema writer Jay Creepy (first documented on these pages in 2018).

In the realm of extreme performance art, ala Jim Rose Circus Sideshow from the early ‘90s, or most recently with SamHel’s I Cut Your Flesh, where boundaries are pushed, and artistic expression knows no limits, there exists a collective known as White Gardenia, led by the enigmatic figure, Daniel Valient. This group has carved a unique niche in the world of contemporary performance art, offering courageous audiences a mesmerizing journey into a world where the flesh and tools are used as a vessel in harmonious chaos.

The Art of Self-Harm begins with an appropriate disclaimer that the acts herein are not encouraged, and that this documentary isn’t for anyone under the age of 18-years-old. The film then commences with interviews as well as previous, and new footage (shot by Doe) with our stars Daniel Valient, Cherokee Nevin (Vore Gore, review here), and everyone’s favourite, Allison. Basically, intercut between new interviews with Daniel and Allison, or Daniel and Cherokee, we get footage from all White Gardenia’s previous works. The stabbing of Daniels hand with scissors, dressed as an old lady, another stabbing of his hand with a knife, Allison hammering his hand with a nail, etcetera, are all on show.

Having seen essentially every piece of footage White Gardenia has created, The Art of Self-Harm is quite the refreshing and new foray behind the minds of the collective. Early on Doe asks from behind the camera, “Where does the name White Gardenia come from?” Daniel responds explaining it is a reference to a series of flower murders that occurred in the 1930s-1940s in which a man by the name of George Hodel was the prime suspect. “He may be the Black Dahlia murderer.” Daniel states, which was quite interesting to discover.

The interviews are conducted with Daniel in complete disguise, adorned in a now popular pandemic mask, shades, and a hat, typically conducted with either Daniel and Cherokee on a couch or Daniel and Allison. But in one interesting section titled ‘Allison’s Special Place’ has Doe following Allison and Daniel in a wooded area/field filled with the carcasses of animals where Allison often goes to relax and meditate. “I’ll just come out here, make a circle and write and think.” explains Allison.

An interesting observation in the doc is that Daniel, a Christian, wears a plethora of Trump t-shirts, explaining that Trump supporters are often Christians. So I guess it makes sense although I can’t imagine the typical Christian demographic could wrap their heads around what White Gardenia does.

There is a sequence of clips in The Art of Self-Harm in which Allison and Daniel act as horror hosts for the extremely obscure anthology film The Slumber Party Gore Tales (review coming to Severed Cinema soon). Throughout the interview the duo explain their roles and fortunately for you dear readers, you’ll get to see the footage herein. In one intro to a short film Daniel showcases the ultimate popcorn recipe with Allison. To improve the popcorn, which is sauteed in s skillet, Allison removes a baggy from the freezer, and produces Daniel’s half-cooked severed finger. Said finger was lopped off with meat cleaver in XXX Dark Web (see review here for XXX Dark Web) which bothered me seemingly endlessly after viewing because it was so shocking, but now I’ve seen the footage so many times its like second nature to me. So, in this sequence Allison suggests adding the “twice-fried-finger” to the popcorn to improve the flavour. It Is then served on a bed of kale to fancify the recipe. This sequence is so wild and over-the-top that it brings an uncontrollable humour to the scene. It must be seen to be appreciated.

As for the finger, I questioned Daniel, half-jokingly, that I’m surprised Jonathan Doe didn’t ask to have your finger. Well, as you will see here in a shockumentary-esque sequence, Doe does in fact now own the finger! In a squirm-inducing sequence he injects the finger a bunch of times to preserve it for his oddities collection. In close-up gruesome, stomach-churning detail, you will witness Doe injecting the half-cooked, half-nibbled finger in close-up terror.

This finger sequence isn’t the most squirm-inducing scene, however. The conclusion to the film follows Daniel and Cherokee to a seemingly abandoned house (which Daniel shadily proclaims has permission to be there). Here Cherokee readies the scene by sanitizing nails 3 different ways, outlining Daniel’s admitted obsessive compulsive neurosis. What follows is a scrotum, nails, and a candelabra in a wild sequence which would have probably made even Bob Flanagan (Sick: The Life and Death of Bob Flanagan) squirm! I had to close my eyes multiple times throughout this sequence, filmed freshly by and unflinching Doe.

The Art of Self-Harm won’t be understood by the masses. It might not even be understood by underground cinephiles. But fortunately, the film is thought provoking. Towards the finale of the film Doe proposes the question to Daniel and Cherokee about people thinking this is merely mental illness. Their answer is truly enlightening, but you’ll have to check out this documentary to hear for yourself.

Jonathan Doe expertly tackles the intriguing and disturbing performances of White Gardenia totally unbiasedly. Nothing is glorified. Nothing is condemned. The Art of Self-Harm is an honest depiction of a group of performance artists just living their lives in a way they wish to. They document for people interested and if not, stay away. Check out The Art of Self-Harm which is available now for pre-order from Putrid Productions (here) and judge for yourself.

Directed by: Jonathan Doe
Written by: Jonathan Doe
Produced by: Jonathan Doe
Cinematography by: Jonathan Doe
Editing by: Lucky Cerruti, Jonathan Doe
Cast: Allison Belmont, Cher Nevin, Daniel Valient
Year: 2023
Country: USA
Language: English
Colour: Colour
Runtime: 2h

Studio: Putrid Productions
Distributor: Vile Video Productions