Above the Below: Daily Journal

Arts & Entertainment Forum

Day 1 - The First Night

Yesterday evening at 21.30, in front of a crowd of hundreds and a television audience of millions, David picked up the few things he is allowed with him for the next 44 days, and climbed into the plexi-glass box.

The crane then lifted the box from the side of the river, and moved David into position over the Thames.

The crowds that had gathered to watch David’s entry stayed for several hours while he unpacked his pillow and mat, wrote in his diary for several minutes and eventually laid down, occasionally waving down to his supporters below.

Temperatures in London last night were relatively mild compared to the cold nights that are expected later on in the feat. David slept under the thin duvet he has with him in the box, saving his woollen jumper and thicker trousers for when he really needs them.

At 09.00 this morning, David woke and sat up cross-legged in the box, staring out across the river for a few minutes before again opening up his diary and starting to write. He then put his diary to one side and, pulling the duvet back over him, laid down and went back to sleep.

http://home.earthlink.net/~xone/story2.jpg

David's Message

As David began his 44 days of confinement last Friday, he asked for a special pre-recorded message to be played. This is what he said:

"No matter how many obstacles I've prepared for there are so many unknowns. Maybe the case will be swaying in the wind. Will the sun burn through the glass making the temperature intolerable? Will the cold nights penetrate the thin walls around me? Will the air supply get cut off and cause suffocation and maybe even death? I don't know. Anything can go wrong and I will have no way of knowing until it is already too late. I can only hope for the best and expect the worst."

http://home.earthlink.net/~xone/story6.jpg

Day 3 - Tower Bridge at a standstill

His plexi-glass home may be a stone's throw from some of London's most famous sights, including Tower Bridge and The London Eye. But David Blaine's first two days in isolation have seen him become a major visitor attraction in his own right.

Tower Bridge came virtually to a standstill yesterday as thousands rushed to see Blaine begin his epic feat of endurance. Crowds lined the west side of the bridge and traffic came almost to a standstill as motorists attempted to catch a glimpse of the illusionist's hanging box.

During the weekend large crowds also thronged the enclosure beneath the box - watching in delight as Blaine swayed gently to-and-fro, with many aiming to get his attention by waving and shouting. Cheers went up when the magician waved back or stood up, with particular excitement caused when he used his blanket to shield himself while urinating.

"Two, four, six, eight, who do we appreciate? Go David! Go David" sang a group of girls with their noses pressed to the security fence. "Guess where I am?" one woman shouted into her mobile phone, "I'm in London looking at that David Blaine!"

Gary Chambers, who had come especially to see Blaine in the box, said it was "good entertainment". South African Rico Piagesti claimed Blaine is a "freak" and that "everyone thinks he's nuts". Nonetheless, he said, Blaine is the "The world's best illusionist", a view which explained the special journey he and his girlfriend had made to see the magician firsthand.

Eighteen-year-old Londoner Alex Newby would only say that he thought Blaine's feat was "well funny", but grudgingly admitted that he would be impressed if the magician managed to last for six weeks.

Blaine is likely to be pleased by the numbers, having said before he began the feat that he would draw support from visitors.

http://home.earthlink.net/~xone/story5.jpg

Day 4 - Revealed: the medical risks

David Blaine is no stranger to breathtaking feats of endurance. Previous spectacles have seen him buried alive, entombed in ice and marooned atop a hundred-foot pole.

Not satisfied with these astonishing acts Blaine is now attempting his most audacious - and dangerous - feat to date.

In last night's Channel 4 coverage of Above The Below, David revealed that he wants to be known as "the greatest showman of all time" and is pushing himself up to and beyond his physical and psychological limits in the pursuit of this goal.

But what are the dangers David now faces?

During his preparation for the feat, Blaine met with nutrition expert Dr Mike Stroud. Stroud warned the illusionist that he will "become more vulnerable within days [of starting the feat]". Stroud explained that during starvation the body is essentially eating itself and therefore not getting all of the nutrients it needs. Effects include a thinning of the heart and other internal organs, which will function less well as a result, and thinning of the bones.

Other physical effects of starvation include hormonal imbalance and loss of sex drive, thinning of the skin, susceptibility to cold temperatures and bleeding gums, possibly caused by scurvy.

And while some sceptics have suggested that Blaine could be receiving glucose in his water to sustain him, experts also warn that glucose in fact heightens the risks for those living without food. This is because it boosts the metabolism, stimulating the uptake of vital nutrients.

The risks continue once David exits the box. Victims of starvation need strict medical supervision as they take on food again. If Blaine begins to eat too suddenly the shock to his system could do permanent damage, even inducing heart attack.

David will also confront psychological challenges while inside the box. Psychologist Dr John Potter explained on last night's show that after 12-14 days, Blaine will likely begin to experience mood swings, low self-esteem and begin demonstrating ritualistic behaviour, such as finger pulling.

Gulf war veteran John Nichol, who was kept in solitary confinement as a POW, confirms that "Trying to keep your mind... active in those situations is incredibly difficult".

In fact, Dr Potter says that without stimulation, the brain eventually starts to create its own, often in the form of hallucinations.

In the first stages, the walls confining a person may appear to start to wiggle. Later, Blaine is likely to think he can see insects crawling on the walls and it's even possible that faces will start to appear to him.

It is thought that the use of meditation and mental games will ease the psychological problems posed by isolation. So, too, will the journal that David has, in which he will keep a record of his life inside the box.

Despite these tools, Blaine anticipates problems coping with the isolation and upon entering the box said the hardest part would come in the second half of the challenge "when I start to lose my mind and everything becomes really bad".

Day 5 - Fear after pen prank

A prank by spectators wielding laser pens has sparked fear at the site of David Blaine’s endurance feat. Security officers accosted three people yesterday after Blaine spotted tiny dots of red light on his body.

The three were aiming the pens directly into the illusionist’s eyes – presumably in a bid to irritate him or keep him awake. But the prank backfired when Blaine feared the lights indicated a gun being aimed at him.

Blaine’s security team took the incident seriously enough to call the police, but after questioning the culprits were released.

Crowds at the site of Blaine’s feat have so far proved a mixed blessing. Before entering the box, the illusionist was hoping for support from spectators. But while many have turned out to encourage him, others have thrown missiles in a bid to get his attention. Girlfriend Manon Von Gerkan, Blaine’s girlfriend, has been seen cleaning the side of his box after spectators threw eggs.

More recently Blaine was woken in the early hours of yesterday morning by a group of off-duty soldiers. The serenading squaddies regaled the magician with their version of ‘Swing Low Sweet Chariot’. Despite being shaken from his slumber, Blaine seemed amused and commented, “what a funny way to be woken up”. Another group encouraged the illusionist with a chant of “We love you David, we do”.

http://home.earthlink.net/~xone/story8.jpg

Day 6 - Blaine: tough times ahead

David Blaine has been looking forward to completing his endurance challenge as he enters his sixth day in the box.

The illusionist this morning calculated that he had so far completed one-seventh of his challenge. Though it may be affecting his waistline, it seems that hunger is not yet compromising his arithmetical abilities.

Blaine also estimated that he had so far lost around 10lb in weight. If correct, this represents around one-fifth of the total he is expected to lose by the end of the challenge.

But while pleased to have got this far, the magician this morning reiterated his view, stated before he entered the box, that the toughest times lay ahead. Blaine said, "I still predict that the really crazy part, the part that you really want to watch, will be day 32 to the end".

There have also been indications this morning that hunger and isolation are affecting the illusionist's state of mind. At around 11am Blaine spoke to the camera in his box, saying, "You know what is weird? I hear distinct voices of people I know speaking to me. Obviously they're not, but I hear it in my ear... it's very real."

Before Blaine began the challenge, psychologists predicted that the magician would begin to hallucinate while inside the box. Speaking more bluntly, Blaine said "I'll start losing my mind".

http://home.earthlink.net/~xone/story9.jpg

Day 7 - Blaine amused by streaker

The question of what to do when living in isolation and without food in a plexi-glass box was yesterday temporarily solved for David Blaine by a skinny dipper.

Several minutes of unexpected entertainment were provided for the magician and spectators near Tower Bridge when the man launched himself into the Thames after stripping off his clothes.

Just before 2pm viewers watching Blaine saw him highly amused by what he could see and saying, "A man just took all his clothes off, waved at me and then jumped into the river naked, and now he's [laughs] swimming across the river. That's pretty crazy."

A few minutes later, Blaine reported on the swimmer’s progress. With the sound of police sirens in the background, Blaine said, "He swam halfway and now he's climbed up one of those stationary boats and the coastguard went out to him probably to save him, but I think he would have made it the whole way". Blaine continued laughing and giggling for some minutes afterwards.

Blaine has enjoyed various other diversions, including mooning rugby players, a woman in her underwear and crowds singing to him.

Mostly, however, the magician has been occupying himself in more routine ways. Much time has been spent writing in a journal, which Blaine is using to document his experience of life in the box. He has also been exercising with yoga stretches, which aim to sustain both body and mind. However, Blaine has already reported that he feels dizzy when he stands, making it unlikely he will be able to continue these for long.

Though spectators and viewers have regularly seen the illusionist don his bedclothes to preserve his dignity while urinating, Blaine has had no need for the diapers which he took with him into the box. Constipation is thought to be the cause of stomach pains which Blaine reported yesterday.

http://home.earthlink.net/~xone/story10.jpg

Day 10 - Flash mob fails to show

Widespread rumours of a planned ‘Flash Mob’ stunt at the site of David Blaine’s endurance feat failed to materialise on Friday evening. Instead there was a positive atmosphere at Tower Bridge as hundreds turned out to support the magician at the end of his first week of fasting.

Flash Mobbing, a craze imported from New York in which participants arrange to assemble using the Internet and mobile phones before performing synchronized surreal acts in public, has made headlines following its arrival in the UK.

For several days last week, web sites had been carrying information on a planned attack, in which hundreds would gather to shine laser pens at the magician. Despite large crowds, there were no signs of such an organized stunt.

The rumours follow an incident earlier last week in which security guards accosted three men who were shining laser pens into Blaine’s eyes. The prank backfired when Blaine believed the red lights on his body to be caused by gun-sights. Blaine’s support team called police, but the three men were released following questioning.

Security was stepped up during the first week of Blaine’s challenge following incidents of spectators throwing missiles at the plexi-glass box.

Despite these problems, the response of spectators has been largely positive. Throughout the weekend, large crowds have continued to gather to witness Blaine in his temporary home. Looking happy, if a little languid, Blaine has smiled and waved at crowds chanting his name and cheering him when he stands to stretch or complete gentle exercises.

http://www.home.earthlink.net/~xone/story11.jpg

Day 13 - low salt threatens Blaine

Chronic salt deprivation is emerging as the biggest physical problem that could be faced by David Blaine, now nearing the end of his second week inside the box.

Dr Adam Carey, an independent expert in nutrition, explains that an average person in a temperate climate normally loses 2g of salt per day. This increases with higher temperature or exercise.

The average Briton's diet, rich in processed foods, contains 6g of salt per day. Combined with the UK's temperate climate, this means there is little risk from natural salt loss. Even acute sodium depletion, as experienced during vigorous exercise, can usually be coped with in these circumstances. However, chronic salt loss caused by starvation is likely to be more dangerous.

Blaine's natural salt loss is being exacerbated by unusually warm weather, which is causing David to sweat more than anticipated. Yesterday, for example, the temperature was 10 degrees Celsius higher than normal for the time of year. Inside the box, where there is no breeze, it is thought to be warmer still, despite Blaine's attempts to create shade using his bedding.

Dr Carey believes that in this environment, Blaine may be losing as much as double the average quantity of sodium. Meanwhile he has been drinking 3-4 litres of water per day.

Short-term side effects are likely to include faintness, dizziness and confusion. David has already reported feeling giddy when he stands.

In the longer term, the dangers are far more serious. Sodium, an electrolyte, is used to conduct messages in the body's nerve cells. If the number of electrolytes is reduced or diluted vital bodily functions can be disrupted. Most dangerous of the possible side effects is irregular heart rhythm. For example, Dr Carey explains that if an average person drank a gallon of water at once the electrolyte disturbance would be enough to cause a heart attack.

Weight loss as expected

David is now thought to have lost more than 10lbs in weight, which is as expected. Dr Carey explains that the most rapid loss of weight occurs in the first few days of starvation, when the body burns off its stores of glycogen to sustain vital sugar supplies. Between 3.5 and 4lb of water are stored with this glycogen, which contributes to the body losing around 7lb in the first week of starvation. After this time weight loss slows to 3-4lb per week as the body begins to burn fat and then muscle for its energy.

Dr Carey expects Blaine to lose around a quarter of his body weight during the six-week feat.

http://home.earthlink.net/~xone/story12.jpg

Day 16 - view from the forum

Forums. The people's voice, the very essence of online democracy, where disciples and detractors of David Blaine are equally welcome to express themselves. From the weird to the wonderful, the irreverent to the irrelevant, you can guarantee there's never a dull moment. We take a look inside this wacky world to find out what you've been saying about David Blaine.

Sceptics vs believers
pakapopas is one poster who thinks Blaine is hoaxing us. Like many others, his theory is that David is receiving more than just water via the tube, including glucose and clear gelatin. But the idea wasn't popular with others on the message boards, who responded by asking why, if he's getting secret supplies, Blaine is looking so thin and lethargic. pakapopas replied with the following post:

"gelatin... glucose... minerals and vitamins are not fattening so he will lose weight as part of the trick. Also don't forget this guy is only cleaning with wet wipes it is amazing how much healthier someone looks after a good hot bath."

Not many seemed to concur with pakapopas's theory that Blaine was deceiving us by not washing properly.

And as justins points out, the fact that William Hill have recently shortened the odds on Blaine not reaching his 44-day target means that increasing numbers of people believe Blaine's endurance feat to be genuine, albeit impossible.

View from America
TruthisthatAAOT has written from America to say "it's great to be able to turn to this thread for updates, keep up the good work guys!" A nice gesture and one that shows David Blaine is generating interest abroad.

Meanwhile 44_days has expressed concern about the impression the British are giving David Blaine by our sometimes-anarchic response to his endurance feat. “These sickos” are doing damage to our national image, says 44_days. “It is a huge imbarrassment [sic], I dont think he will come here again!!!”

2Blackaces thinks we should celebrate these unruly elements, though: “It's a well-known and documented fact that the British yob is a cultural institution”.

For his part, mpressive, is more concerned that it's our climate that lets the British down. After some extremely changeable conditions, he said "If this stunt teaches DB anything, it's to appreciate the unpredictability of British weather!!!!"

http://home.earthlink.net/~xone/david_blaine_atb.gif
(click to visit the David Blaine forums)

Day 17 - support for Blaine grows

David Blaine is now beginning his third week in the box without food, and believes that his body is entering starvation mode. Increasingly weak and unsteady, the magician has talked of a sweet taste in his mouth, like that of pear drops, which is a sign of starvation.

"I have entered starvation mode, low energy ... really low energy and a freak taste in my mouth," Blaine said. "I believe this is starvation."

Blaine is also increasingly lethargic, sitting or lying down most of the time, and sleeping for numerous short stretches throughout the day. When he does stand, he looks shaky and has complained of dizziness. It is thought that his low energy has been compounded by high salt loss, brought on through sweating in the unexpected warm weather.

But while Blaine languishes inside his temporary home, outside his support has increased markedly. An estimated 20,000 people came to see Blaine during the weekend, with revelers chanting the magician's name and cheering wildly when he did manage to stand or wave.

Banners - many of them with religious overtones – have been pinned to the fence surrounding the area. "Keep the faith David" is a typical slogan.

David's support team has reported that he remains cheerful, despite the physical strain he experiences. It is thought that the large, supportive crowds and bright sunshine have combined to keep the magician positive and focused on his goal.

http://home.earthlink.net/~xone/story14.jpg

Day 17 - Rain beats down on Blaine
After two weeks of mild temperatures and bright sunshine which saw Blaine hang up his blanket as a shield from the sun, the English weather has finally caught up with the illusionist.

Blaine spent several minutes using precious toilet roll to plug a pool of water gathering in one corner of the box as torrential rain hit London this afternoon.

"We’ve got some leakage here," said Blaine, down on his hands and knees as he stuffed wads of tissue into the corner.

Undeterred by the bad weather, the press snapped away as David laid down again, still waving and giving the thumbs up despite the box swinging wildly in the building wind. He also managed a few giggles for a group of girls who came out in the rain to shout their support up to him.

Wearing a hooded jumper and wrapped in his blanket, it seems the temperature has also dropped in the box following last week's surprise heat wave, when temperatures hit a record high for the time of year.

http://home.earthlink.net/~xone/story15.jpg

Day 19 - Blaine touched by British

An estimated two thousand spectators gathered yesterday to see David Blaine continue his endurance feat. But Blaine was most touched by the presence of a jazz band near his temporary transparent home.

Upon hearing the music, Blaine was moved to comment on the high quality of performers near his transparent home. Blaine feels they exemplify the artistic tendencies of the British and that the UK populace is uniquely qualified to appreciate his own brand of performance art.

"I'd anticipated that London was the best place to do this", he said, "because [the British] have a better understanding of art... given their history and everything."

The response of spectators remained positive throughout the day, with continued chants of the illusionist's name and one woman releasing a bunch of brightly coloured balloons, prompting smiles from the magician.

One visitor that got unexpectedly close to the box was Blaine's friend, the film director Harmony Korine. Korine ascended on a 'cherry picker' crane to get close-up shots of the magician for the documentary film he is making about the feat.

In a separate development, Blaine has complained that the heating and insulation in his box are insufficient to keep him warm, now that the unusually warm weather of last week has ended.

Day 20 - Medical update

The risk of chronic salt deprivation has subsided for David Blaine following the change in the weather. Last week the illusionist was sweating more than predicted as temperatures inside the box soared to an estimated 100 degrees Fahrenheit. The attendant salt loss brought about side effects including dizziness and confusion, and posed serious health risks in the longer-term, including damage to Blaine's internal organs.

Though the cooler weather has prompted complaints from Blaine that he is now cold, especially at night, the risks of hypothermia are currently minimal compared with those posed by chronic sodium deficiency. Forecasters expect the weather to remain bright this week, before turning colder and wetter during Friday and the weekend.

Blaine has also complained that he is urinating more than usual as his endurance feat continues. Nutrition expert Dr Adam Carey believes this may be explained by changes in the body when it starves. Like other internal organs, the bowel tends to suffer damage during starvation which may cause it to absorb water faster than at other times. This would explain the increased frequency of urination that Blaine has mentioned.

Some observers have also commented that David is looking fatter – despite the fact that he is losing weight steadily. Dr Carey offers several possible explanations for this. Firstly, muscles are likely to look flabbier and more deflated as the body burns off the water-rich carbohydrate that normally surrounds them. Secondly, as the body begins to burn muscle to create vital blood sugar for the brain, the ratio of fat to muscle may increase, which again may lead to a person looking flabbier. Finally, lack of food often causes the stomach to distend or swell, creating the illusion of fatness.

Dr Carey believes that Blaine will have lost roughly 28lb by the end of this week.

Day 20 - Blaine responds to critics

David Blaine last night responded to a member of the crowd who criticised him for not taking account of people starving in other countries.

At around 18:00 hours on Wednesday a man shouted, "thousands of Africans are starving... think about it". Other spectators who disagreed with the man's stance tried to drown Blaine's critic out, but he continued his tirade, saying, "Think of all the starving people".

Eventually Blaine was moved to respond, speaking directly to the camera in his box:

"He's so concerned with people that are starving – and I think it is a concern – then he should go work and send all his money to feed people, or go feed them himself. Instead of using his anger to come yell and scream negativity, he should go do something positive".

Despite the criticism Blaine continues to be in good spirits this week, and has drawn support from the large, supportive crowds that have been gathering. The illusionist has been occupying himself by writing in his journal, performing gentle exercises and occasionally posing logic challenges to viewers.

Day 21 - Box hit by paint bomb

David Blaine was last night woken when a man began firing paint bombs at his Perspex box.

At 3am this morning the man, located in a nearby derelict building, used a catapult to launch several missiles, one of which hit the rear wall of the box, spraying pink paint on its exterior.

Blaine looked startled by the loud bang that the missile caused, but quickly laughed the incident off. Later this morning the illusionist said that the surprise had done him good. "I always feel better after stress", he said.

Though the man responsible was some distance away from the box, Blaine's security team managed to detain him and he was subsequently arrested by police.

A 28-year-old man, Henry Cookson of Fulham, was later charged with criminal damage in relation to the attack.

In a separate development, another man appeared in court this week charged with criminal damage. 38-year-old Stephen Charles Field, a cleaner from Surrey, had allegedly tried to cut the water pipe that supplies Blaine's Perspex box.

Day 24 - Life imitates art?

David Blaine has uttered relatively few words since he entered his Perspex home. But the illusionist has been demonstrating a surprising literary tendency in the things he does say. Piecing his comments together with those of his friend and collaborator Harmony Korine, there are clues to the artistic inspiration for Above The Below.

Last week Korine revealed in an interview with The Guardian that Above The Below was inspired largely by a Franz Kafka short story. The Hunger Artist is a tale about the decline of a once-celebrated starvation artist.

In the story, a key focus is the reaction of the artist's audience, which creates an obvious parallel with Blaine's real-life feat. As Above The Below progresses, it seems the response of the audience is just as interesting as the state of the man in the box. This is as it should be according to Korine, who says that there's "no right or wrong way to react" to it. David views his feat as performance art, and as with any artwork, creating discussion is part of its job.

Meanwhile, Blaine has himself been talking about literature. Late last week he listed some of his favourite works, which included another Kafka story, Metamorphosis. Blaine didn't say whether his current feat had been directly influenced by the story, but the tale, about a dramatic physical transformation that changes the individual’s relationship to the world, has clear resonance with the illusionist's real-life feat.

Another notable reference came when Blaine listed The Letters of Vincent Van Gogh as a work he had enjoyed. Did the painter's life inspire the now-infamous illusion at Blaine's pre-box press conference, in which he appeared to sever his own ear with a knife? It certainly seems possible.

During the weekend, Blaine has also been talking about the life of Dostoevsky. Earlier in his feat, while writing in his diary, Blaine held up a sign asking for guidance on how to spell the author's name. Despite this uncertainty Blaine seems knowledgeable about the writer. He described how, after enduring life in a Siberian prison camp, Dostoevsky emerged to produce potent works that reveal "humanity at its worst". Perhaps the illusionist feels that his own suffering will lead to similar artistic enlightenment.

Blaine has also cited Herman Hesse's Damien as influential in his own life. Again, this is a novel that sparks interest in the ways that people react to things. "If you hate a person" Hesse wrote in Damien, "you hate something in him that is part of yourself. What isn't part of ourselves doesn't disturb us".

The response of Blaine's audience gets more and more positive as time goes on. But there are still those who want to detract from his endurance feat, like the man arrested last week for firing paint bombs. It is easy to imagine Blaine smiling wryly after this latest attempt at sabotage, which arguably said more about his audience than it did about the illusionist himself.

Day 24 - Weekend update

David Blaine has had a busy few days. An estimated 15,000 people thronged his enclosure during the weekend in which he passed the half-way mark of his challenge.

Buskers created the soundtrack to the action for much of the weekend, with jazz bands and singers rendering classics like 'I've Got You Under My Skin', and the tribute to Blaine's birthplace, 'New York, New York'.

On Saturday David responded to requests from the crowd to reveal the contents of his rucksack by removing its items one by one. The crowd cheered as the illusionist worked through his show-and-tell. The bag contained wet wipes, a 'space blanket', lip balm, anti-bacterial pads, two pencils, burn gel in case of sunburn, all-purpose soap, which Blaine said "I haven’t used", chess pieces, a towel and a thermometer, which he said, "I have no use for".

Blaine was hopeful that his demonstration would change the minds of sceptics who believe he has secret supplies. "I guess their opinions will have to change", he said once he'd emptied the bag.

Blaine has also been reading from his journal, which has been his closest companion since entering the box. Late last night he read a section explaining that deprivation had caused him to reevaluate his attitude to material things. "The best things in life are free", he said. "I will enjoy the simple things in life so much more after this and take nothing God has given us for granted... I will take a shower and brush my teeth and floss".

In another extract, Blaine has been reading a harrowing account of his youth, in which his mother died of cancer and his father died of a drug overdose.

Responding to a questioner who asked if he was bored, Blaine replied that he is "never bored" because he "always has something to think about... [it] doesn't matter if you're locked away, the mind is still active".

One means of occupying his mind has been pondering and posing logic puzzles and riddles. Blaine has asked in which direction the steam from a northbound electric train would travel. The answer: electric trains don't produce steam. He also worked out the answer to a puzzle posed by friends before he entered the box: what sort of game is it when the winner goes backwards and the loser goes forwards? Answer: a tug-of-war.

Blaine appeared to be greatly amused late last night when a reveler ended up in the Thames, the second such incident since he began life behind Perspex. "Nights here are never boring, that's for sure!" he exclaimed, laughing heartily.

Despite his clear good spirits, signs of his physical deterioration continue to appear. During the last few days, Blaine has begun to complain of shooting pains in his muscles when he moves.

Day 25 - Blaine passes urine test

It's official: Blaine is starving. After weeks of speculation in the media that David Blaine is secretly consuming vitamin and glucose supplements, journalists have watched tests that prove he is consuming only water.

During the weekend representatives from the News of the World and Independent newspapers took a nutrition expert from a London hospital to sample the water that Blaine is drinking. Catherine Collins, chief dietician at St George's Hospital concluded that Blaine's water is free of electrolytes and glucose.

The journalists then observed the member of Blaine's support team charged with sampling his urine to check for medical problems. They saw Alex Angeloudes remove Blaine's collected urine from its repository before traveling with it to the Southampton hospital where it was tested.

Professor Marinos Elia of the Institute of Human Nutrition at Southampton General Hospital is the country's leading nutritionist. Though he is not part of Blaine's team, Professor Elia has been testing the illusionist's urine regularly since Blaine entered the box.

The results of the test showed that the sodium chloride levels in the sample were ten times lower than those of a normal person. During starvation the kidneys reabsorb any salt in the urine to prevent its depletion from the body.

In contrast, ketone levels in Blaine's blood were extremely high. Ketones are produced when the body begins to break down its muscle and fat tissue in order to sustain itself.

The conclusion: Blaine is genuinely starving.

Day 26 - Water pipe attacker fined

A businessman has been fined nearly £1000 after pleading guilty to charges of criminal damage and threatening behaviour at the site of David Blaine's endurance feat.

Stephen Field, of Godalming in Surrey, had scaled the tower that supports David Blaine's water supply pipe. He claimed afterwards that he wanted a better view of the illusionist.

Handing down the fine at Tower Bridge Magistrates Court, district judge Stewart Black said, "I can't understand why people like you can't leave Mr. Blaine in peace".

Day 26 - Fantasy dinner guests

David Blaine might be starving, but when planning his fantasy dinner party his interest is conversational rather than culinary.

The illusionist last night revealed his ultimate dinner party guest list, which included Jesus, Ghandi, Leonardo da Vinci, Hitler, Howard Hughes, Albert Einstein, Dostoevsky, PT Barnum, Orson Welles and Primo Levi. Blaine would also like to invite Bridget Bardot, so that he could watch other guests try to impress her. "But I think Jesus would win", he said.

Blaine's banter is further evidence that he is in good spirits despite steady physical decline. He has begun complaining of muscular pains and suffering from nosebleeds.

Blaine has also been buoyed by the unexpectedly temperate conditions since he began his feat. The illusionist has stated in recent days that the mild weather confirms London as the best location for Above The Below.

Meanwhile Pamela Anderson and Naomi Campbell are the latest celebrities to have visited David Blaine in his temporary home. The pair joins a growing list of famous faces seen at the box, including film star Edward Norton, Uri Gellar, comedian Frank Skinner and Sir Paul McCartney. The ex-Beatle hit the headlines last week when his companions were involved in an altercation with a photographer.

Day 28 - Interview: Harmony Korine

Harmony Korine, David Blaine's best friend and collaborator on Above The Below, talks to our reporter about the reaction of the public, the inspiration for the project and what David is discovering as he endures starvation.

Sitting directly beneath David Blaine's Perspex box, I first asked Korine about the nature of the British public's response. Initially there was scepticism, especially in sections of the media. This now seems to be giving way to interest in and support for Blaine. How does he feel about this?

Korine is unmoved by either reaction, saying "there’s no right or wrong way to view this”. He agrees that this could be read as typical Brit cynicism giving way to our love of the underdog, but feels in the end that the feat is about creating a “discourse” or conversation rather than creating one particular effect.

Indeed, Korine is keen find out what happens next in this regard. “One of the things that makes this interesting to me is to see how, as [David] grows sicker, the people respond. Whether they grow sicker with him or whether they come and try to lift him up”.

Judging by the crowd’s mood today, the latter will be the case. The perimeter fence that protects the ground beneath Blaine’s box is heavy with homemade banners shouting ‘You’re amazing David’ and ‘Keep The Faith’ and each evening brings crowds of well wishers to witness the illusionist.

I asked Korine what inspired the feat. David seems to be moving away from straight magic towards performance art. Did the art and literature that Blaine has been talking of while inside the box play a part in its conception?

Korine mentions the American performance artist Chris Burden and Franz Kafka’s story The Hunger Artist as influences. Burden has performed extreme acts like locking himself in a luggage locker for five days; Kafka’s story is about an artist whose career performing endurance acts is waning.

But Korine hesitates to attribute Above The Below to a small number of influences and says the awareness of connections to art and literature came later. “There’s millions. It’s hard to really dissect. There are lots of influences and at the same time there are none… It was more a feeling, a general idea. The Hunger Artist or Dostoevsky’s The Grand Inquisitor, were things that seemed to coincide, to link with this project”.

I wondered whether Blaine’s mention of Metamorphosis, which charts the changing relationship between an individual and society following a dramatic physical transformation, might be significant.

Korine thinks it is, but again, that David is finding these links as he experiences life in the box, rather than having been inspired by them in the first place. “He’s up there going through something and finding some kind of correlation in things that he’s read, I imagine.”

So artistic suffering is part of the process for Blaine? “Sure, of course” Harmony says. “But it’s not just artistic suffering… it’s just suffering, I mean people suffer.”

But does this suffering lead us towards some sort of truth? “I think it makes a million statements and probably makes none at all”, says Korine cryptically.

So much for the project. What will Korine’s film about Above The Below be like? “It’s kind of like a little film or essay or visual poem. It’s kind of like my movies… a pastiche... there’s no linear narrative, there’s no street magic. It’s images and sounds and footage and insight.”

Finally I ask Korine about the risks posed by the project. He and Blaine are no strangers to danger in the pursuit of artistic insight – Korine once got himself deliberately beaten up in New York while Blaine filmed the action – but surely he’s worried about the risks the magician now faces?

“Without question: he’s my best friend. I am very frightened... now is when it really starts to get scary. I’m worried but also have faith in the divinity of it. I think whatever is, is. And I hope it comes out right and I hope that he’s not damaged, but for whatever reason he’s putting himself through this, he needs to be there. At a certain point I relinquish my ties and I have to have a certain objectivity to create what I’m creating.

“At the same time, on a personal level, it’s very hard. It’s hard for me to sit here and look up there, look at his face. I know he’s starving, but this is something that he needs to do and I understand that and in the end I think that’s most important.”