Dutch artist Daya Cahen explores the intersection of propaganda, indoctrination, and power in her work. In this in-depth interview, she discusses her haunting documentary “Nashi,” which captures the unsettling reality of a Russian pro-Kremlin youth camp.
Cahen reflects on how ideology is instilled in young minds, the mechanisms of manipulation, and her personal connection to the themes of authoritarianism and social control. She recalls her first encounter with “Nashi,” a state-sponsored youth movement: “I saw this image of thousands of children dressed like Santa Claus, marching with flags. And I thought: this is so crazy. I have to get near this movement.” Determined to witness the indoctrination firsthand, she found a way into the camp despite initial resistance.
Her experience at the camp was both mesmerizing and terrifying. “It was so scary because it was so overwhelmingly beautiful,” she says. “The sun was shining, hormones were flying around, and they were all in love, getting lessons. It was paid for by Gazprom, so you have no idea how fantastic it all looked.”
Cahen also reflects on her lifelong fascination with systems of power, shaped by her family’s history. “I was brought up with this idea that the world can change on you in a day. You can be ostracized from any society based on your religion, race, gender, or whatever.” This perspective drives her work, as she seeks to understand the mechanisms that create exclusion, control, and mass psychological manipulation.
In discussing her approach to filmmaking, Cahen explains: “I chose a split-screen technique so I could film different perspectives at the same time—to show that there’s always another perspective, and that you have to take a step back to see the full picture.” She deliberately refrains from overt commentary, allowing the imagery and repetition to expose the system at work. “By having them repeat the sentences, the kids become like a kind of machine. Because it is so neutral, it’s almost scarier than if I would make any comment.”
With the resurgence of authoritarian tactics globally, Cahen’s work remains disturbingly relevant. “When I showed the film in 2008, I came back from the camp and I was like, you know what? Putin’s gonna conquer the world. This is the plan, and it’s going to be paid for with gas money. Over the years, it didn’t happen, so it kind of faded away. But now, with the invasion of Ukraine, you see that the system was in place all along.”
Daya Cahen (b. 1969, Amsterdam) is a Dutch visual artist and filmmaker whose work interrogates propaganda, mass psychology, and authoritarianism. She has exhibited internationally, with works including “Nashi” (2008), “Birth of a Nation” (2017), and ongoing projects on the Uyghur genocide. Her works have been widely screened and exhibited, among others, at Haus der Kulturen der Welt (Berlin), the Moscow Museum of Modern Art, Dutch Photo Museum, Kunstmuseum Bonn, De Appel Arts Centre (Amsterdam), Wiels (Brussels), Centre Pompidou and Palais de Tokyo (Paris). She participated in various international film including Short Film Festival Oberhausen, IDFA, International Film Festival Rotterdam and was nominated for a Golden Bear (Short Film) at the Berlin International Film Festival.
Christian Lund interviewed Daya Cahen in May 2024 at the Louisiana Museum of Modern Art.
Cameras by Jarl Therkelsen Kaldan
Edit by Roxanne Bageshirin Lærkesen
Produced by Christian Lund
Copyright: Louisiana Channel, Louisiana Museum of Modern Art, 2025.
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