Björk

by Björk

An intimate look at one of the most creative artists at work today.

When it comes to making music, Björk needs no introduction. She has always been at the vanguard, exploding convention and leading her listeners down the uncharted paths of a haunting and harmonic trip through sound. Last year, she starred in Lars von Trier's acclaimed Dancer in the Dark, and took home the coveted Best Actress award at Cannes. A true artist whose work has consistently transcended creative and geographic borders, Björk turns every medium she touches to gold.

Her next project is a gorgeously produced, stunningly beautiful collection of photographs and text that is being published simultaneously around the world. Designed by Björk and m/m, the celebrated Paris design firm that has already collaborated Balenciaga, Visionaire, and Yohji Yamamoto, the book boasts contributions from the world's top photographers, fashion designers and video makers as well as original writing and artwork by Björk herself.

A breathtaking photographic odyssey through Björk's career, a stunning visual and literary companion to one of the most original performers of our time, Björk promises to be like no book you've ever seen. Coinciding with the release of her new album, Vespertine, and the supporting tour, this book is a must-have for Björk's admirers as well as anyone craving a touch of beauty for their bookshelf.

Genres: Music, Art, Biography, Photography, Autobiography

192 pages, Paperback

First published August 28, 2001

About the author

Björk Guðmundsdóttir is an Icelandic singer-songwriter, composer, actress and music producer. She has been nominated for 13 Grammy Awards, an Academy Award and two Golden Globe Awards (including one for acting).

She is best known for her expressive vocals and an interest in many kinds of music, including pop, alternative rock, jazz, ambient music, electronica, classical and folk, as well as her eccentric costumes. Her singles "It's Oh So Quiet", "Army of Me" and "Hyperballad" all charted in the UK top 10.

Her record label, One Little Indian, reported in 2003 that she had sold more than 15 million albums worldwide. Her most recent album, Volta, was released worldwide on May 8, 2007. She was ranked #36 on VH1's "The 100 Greatest Women in Rock and Roll" and #8 on MTV's "22 Greatest Voices in Music".

Reviews

[Vanessa (V.C.) · Rating 5 out of 5]

More than a collection of photos that most hardcore Bjork fans have seen long before they were published in this book, this is a quick and stunning read into not just the artist herself, but the inner-workings of art itself in the music, pop, and material world. It starts humorously with a hilarious "Are You Obsessed With Bjork?" questionnaire and then digs really deep and philosophically into "Cyber Bjork" (how Bjork has bridged her art into technology in such a way that so few artists have done as well and magically.) I have always thought that David Bowie and Bjork were remarkably similar to each other, and yet somehow, the comparing of the two has rarely been acknowledged and analyzed until we get to here, and it does so succinctly, at how these two artists, as unique as they are, share the same mission. What I love so much about this book is that it's as artsy and complex as it's so simple and to the point. The shining moment in this book was the short and sweet interview between Sir David Attenborough and Bjork, so insightful and remarkable, you can feel the love and respect between the two so much through just their words, and it makes reading it now even more striking considering how 10 years later from this book's publication, the two reunite again with Biophilia. The following pages after it, the book branches off into a kind of acid trip that only a kid could have, smacked with adorable baby pictures of Bjork, and then finishing it all off with abrupt images that are as wondrous and strange as they are incomplete, which makes for such a fitting conclusion to a book that, after all, happened at the peak of Bjork's career with Vespertine. As it is with her music, even in a book, nothing ever feels complete and definitive. Like Bjork herself, she's not looking to the end, but only to a new beginning, again, and again, and again. Thankfully to this day, our Bjork is still looking to the future even when journeying back to the past.

[Matthew Richards · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have no idea what I just read, but it did come from Bjork's head. Lots of photography, weird drawings, some excerpts from novels, interviews or monologues, poetry, random pictures of Michael Jackson and construction workers pushing steak through a hole...I think I saw a recipe in there?

[Simona Stefani · Rating 3 out of 5]

Comprai questo libro appena uscì perché la copertina era stramba: in carta telata, completamente scritta, insomma... una cosa davvero strana, nonostante io conosca solo 2 o 3 canzoni di Björk e non mi sia mai interessata al personaggio. All'interno si trovano alcune foto belle, altre troppo "artistiche" per i miei gusti. Credo sia un bell'acquisto per i veri fans.

[mcwitty · Rating 5 out of 5]

chewing pages

[Cathryn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some great photos of Bjork and I enjoyed the exchange with Attenborough but let's just say that I am glad I borrowed this from the library and didn't purchase...

[India · Rating 5 out of 5]

*more of a photography book than something to read.

[Finlay...! · Rating 4 out of 5]

i mean i am a huge fan of the photoshoots so this is obviously going to be a piece of me. it's not creatively insightful by any means, but it is very pretty💗thanks mother

[Alex Adams · Rating 5 out of 5]

love this babe

[Szondi]

nota para mí: ojalá tenerlo en papel

[Ginny · Rating 4 out of 5]

mostly photography, but not lacking for inspiration

[Haruna · Rating 4 out of 5]

good to see much of her art works. the design by M/M paris is perfect.