How do you pack a 20-year career of excellence in the worlds of music, film, and art into a single exhibition? Judging by MoMA’s latest retrospective, the answer is: in the most unconventional way possible. The Museum of Modern Art’s look back at the expansive career of Björk packs in an exclusive film, an interactive audio tour, and a mind-blowing collection of costumes and props from the Icelandic singer’s career, all into one exhibition. But, a simple walk through a gallery space this is not.
The idea for a Björk retrospective at MoMA dates back to 2000, when the show’s curator Klaus Biesenbach approached Björk with the idea of an exhibition looking back at her many music video collaborations. After MoMA acquired the singer’s music app Biophilia—a first in the art world—in 2012, plans for a collaboration began to materialize. With Björk overseeing each aspect of its creation, a two-level experience was created: on the museum’s second floor are screening rooms for both a retrospective of Björk’s music videos as well as Black Lake, a music video and audio installation commissioned by the museum and filmed in a remote cave in Iceland. On the third floor is Songlines, a journey through iconic artifacts from Björk’s career using a location-based audio tour designed specifically for this exhibition, which progresses as you pass through the exhibit. The exhibition is truly an innovative look at an even more innovative artist, and Björk and MoMA wouldn’t have it any other way.
Björk is on view at the Museum of Modern Art from March 8 to June 7
Museum of Modern Art
11 W 53rd St
New York, NY 10019
MAP![]()
Still from “Black Lake,” commissioned by The Museum of Modern Art, New York, and directed by Andrew Thomas Huang, 2015. Courtesy of Wellhart and One Little Indian![]()
Photograph by Danny Clinch.![]()
Still from “All Is Full of Love” directed by Chris Cunningham, 1999. Courtesy of Wellhart Ltd & One Little Indian.![]()
Björk, Biophilia, 2011. By M/M (Paris) Photographed by Inez van Lamsweerde & Vinoodh Matadin. Courtesy of Wellhart Ltd & One Little Indian.![]()
Björk, Homogenic, 1997. Photography by Nick Knight. Courtesy of Wellhart Ltd & One Little Indian![]()
Björk. Still from “Wanderlust” directed by Encyclopedia Pictura, 2008. Courtesy of Wellhart Ltd & One Little Indian. ![]()
Björk, Vulnicura, 2015 Copyright © 2015 Inez and Vinoodh. Courtesy of Wellhart/One Little Indian
The idea for a Björk retrospective at MoMA dates back to 2000, when the show’s curator Klaus Biesenbach approached Björk with the idea of an exhibition looking back at her many music video collaborations. After MoMA acquired the singer’s music app Biophilia—a first in the art world—in 2012, plans for a collaboration began to materialize. With Björk overseeing each aspect of its creation, a two-level experience was created: on the museum’s second floor are screening rooms for both a retrospective of Björk’s music videos as well as Black Lake, a music video and audio installation commissioned by the museum and filmed in a remote cave in Iceland. On the third floor is Songlines, a journey through iconic artifacts from Björk’s career using a location-based audio tour designed specifically for this exhibition, which progresses as you pass through the exhibit. The exhibition is truly an innovative look at an even more innovative artist, and Björk and MoMA wouldn’t have it any other way.
Björk is on view at the Museum of Modern Art from March 8 to June 7
Museum of Modern Art
11 W 53rd St
New York, NY 10019
MAP
Still from “Black Lake,” commissioned by The Museum of Modern Art, New York, and directed by Andrew Thomas Huang, 2015. Courtesy of Wellhart and One Little Indian
Photograph by Danny Clinch.
Still from “All Is Full of Love” directed by Chris Cunningham, 1999. Courtesy of Wellhart Ltd & One Little Indian.
Björk, Biophilia, 2011. By M/M (Paris) Photographed by Inez van Lamsweerde & Vinoodh Matadin. Courtesy of Wellhart Ltd & One Little Indian.
Björk, Homogenic, 1997. Photography by Nick Knight. Courtesy of Wellhart Ltd & One Little Indian
Björk. Still from “Wanderlust” directed by Encyclopedia Pictura, 2008. Courtesy of Wellhart Ltd & One Little Indian. 
Björk, Vulnicura, 2015 Copyright © 2015 Inez and Vinoodh. Courtesy of Wellhart/One Little Indian