Tony Kaye is an irascible character if a documentary due to be
screened this weekend is anything to go by.
The film (on Channel 4, Sunday at 9pm) is part of the Arthouse series,
and initially portrays Kaye as a lifelong art student with a humane,
compassionate side.
In one scene, Kaye asks a hypnotist to help him become a better artist,
a genius no less. She replies - sycophantically - ’You’re a genius
already, Tony.’
The documentary concentrates mainly on Kaye’s talents as an
extraordinary self-publicist, but also reveals the opulence of his
lifestyle and the ridiculousness of his stunts. In another scene, he
visits a series of galleries to ask if he may ’take a shit in the middle
of the room’.
The security guards all look suitably stunned.
Sensitive viewers should be warned - some of the language and the
imagery are a bit much.