Celebrating the breathtaking imagination and groundbreaking designs of Lee Alexander McQueen, the latest fashion film directed by Nick Knight, set to an exclusive soundtrack by Bjork, pays tribute to McQueen’s sensational creations, stellar career, and most importantly to the man himself.
‘This film is my way of speaking about a very unique and important person who changed my life. My desire was to speak in some way about the dark and the light contained within Lee, and within us all.’
Nick Knight
For me personally, it feels like this is the last collaboration between 3 very eclectic individuals, since throughout the years the trio have on occasion got together for some pieces.
I was first exposed to McQueen’s work (and Nick Knight’s for that matter), about 13 years ago, when I scraped some savings to buy the then just released Bjork album, “Homogenic” (regular folks around here, know I’m a fierce Bjork defender, exactly because of her willingness to “go out there” both musically and visually, without it feeling contrived or over staged, unlike a lot of musicians, who seem to do it just for shock value).
The cover image of the album, art directed by McQueen, shot by Knight, and with graphical work by Me Company, was a bizarre mix of alien, asian and african influences, which til this day is guaranteed to stand out in any music store.
The album was Björk’s first attempt to bridge the world of electronic music with more organic elements (including orchestral score and unusual applications of the human voice), and she approached McQueen to try to capture the album’s icy, otherworldly cool vibe in a cover image.
“When I went to Alexander McQueen, I explained to him the person who wrote these songs — someone who was put into an impossible situation, so impossible that she had to become a warrior,” Bjork told the Chicago Sun-Times in 1998. “A warrior who had to fight not with weapons, but with love.” Though the cover appears to be a straight illustration, Bjork actually posed for the image. “I had 10 kilos of hair on my head, and special contact lenses and a manicure that prevented me from eating with my fingers, and gaffer tape around my waist and high clogs so I couldn’t walk easily,” she said. “I wanted to put all the emotion of the album into that image.”
A previous McQueen/Knight collaboration for a photoshoot clearly provided the basis idea for the imagery achieved.
Another collab from the trio, was in order for the cover of 2003′s DVD, “Vespertine Live at the Royal Opera House”, featuring a McQueen dress from his fall winter 2002 collection.
They had also collaborated on Bjork’s 2001 video for the track Pagan Poetry.
The video, directed by Nick, featured a McQueen creation.
Elevation by Nick Knight & Gareth Pugh
Nick Gentry
RIP Alexander McQueen
Insensate
Transformers
Thanks for posting this!! I’m a big time Bjork/McQueen fan. They both bring it hard. I didn’t realize their collaboration extended beyond the homogenic cover so I can enjoy Vespertine and Pagan Poetry in a new light now… rad.
I know, what a dynamic duo, you might want to check this as well:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=78peItMQR3w
and ofcourse McQueen directed Bjork’s video for Alarm Call: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rCtzQ6KbWWY
I think it’s hard to find anyone doing what Bjork is doing musically. She is in a class by herself.