Come Under the Cover with artist and filmmaker Arthur Jafa as he delves into his lifelong relationship with books and the cultural moments that have informed him. Jafa recounts how books first opened the world to him growing up in Mississippi, where reading became a portal to elsewhere. From comic books and science fiction to literature at large, he recalls a childhood immersed in stories made possible in part by a librarian neighbour who entrusted him with keys to the library. This early intimacy with printed matter evolved into a visual and conceptual practice influenced by friend and fellow artist Kerry James Marshall. He began cutting and reassembling pages from magazines and books like Fantastic Coffins from Africa, reappropriating their imagery and meaning, with these formative gestures echoing through his later video work. From the Sofia Coppla movie he deems perfect, to a memorable meeting with Wong Kar-wai at the New York Film Festival, and the surreal moment David Bowie attended the opening of his first exhibition (as documented in his most recent book Live Evil), Jafa reveals a constellation of encounters with culture that have marked his path and continue to inspire him. Subscribe to our Substack for access to an extended cut of the interview alongside exclusive editorial content including a bonus quick-fire Q&A with Arthur Jafa. Scroll down to explore Arthur Jafa’s Under the Cover picks.