Björk

Mar 8–Jun 7, 2015

MoMA

Björk. 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
  • MoMA, Floor 2, Marron Atrium The Donald B. and Catherine C. Marron Atrium

The Museum of Modern Art presents a retrospective of the multifaceted work of composer, musician, and singer Björk. The exhibition draws from more than 20 years of the artist’s daring and innovative projects and her eight full-length albums to chronicle her career through sound, film, visuals, instruments, objects, and costumes. In the Museum lobby, instruments used on Biophilia (2011)—a gameleste, pipe organ, gravity harp, and Tesla coil—play songs from the album at different points throughout the day. On the second floor, in the Marron Atrium, two spaces have been constructed: one is dedicated to a new sound and video installation, commissioned by The Museum of Modern Art, for “Black Lake,” a song from Björk’s new album Vulnicura (2015); and the second is a cinema room that screens a retrospective in music videos, from Debut (1993) to Biophilia. On the third floor, Songlines presents an interactive, location-based audio experience through Björk’s albums, with a biographical narrative that is both personal and poetic, written by the acclaimed Icelandic writer Sjón, along with many visuals, objects, and costumes, including the robots designed by Chris Cunningham for the “All Is Full of Love” music video, Marjan Pejoski’s Swan Dress (2001), and Iris van Herpen’s Biophilia tour dress (2013), among many others.

Entry to the Björk exhibition is included with general Museum admission. Timed tickets are required for the Songlines portion of the exhibition, and are available same-day and on-site only, at no additional charge, on a first-come, first-served basis, beginning at 10:30 a.m. daily.

MoMA members may reserve same-day tickets for Songlines on-site only, at no additional charge, on a first-come, first-served basis, beginning at 9:30 a.m. daily. Exclusive Member Early Hours will be held daily between 9:30 and 10:30 a.m. (for Songlines only). Member Early Hours are open to MoMA members, with the exception of Global members. Space is limited.

Organized by Klaus Biesenbach, Chief Curator at Large, The Museum of Modern Art, and Director, MoMA PS1.

The exhibition is made possible by a partnership with Volkswagen of America.

Special thanks to Autodesk, Bowers & Wilkins, Michael Andrews Audio Visual Services, and Barco.

Major support is provided by MoMA’s Wallis Annenberg Fund for Innovation in Contemporary Art through the Annenberg Foundation.

Additional funding is provided by The Modern Women’s Fund, The Junior Associates of The Museum of Modern Art, Iceland Naturally, and the MoMA Annual Exhibition Fund.

Publications

  • Björk Exhibition catalogue, Slipcased, 192 pages
  • Press release 4 pages

Artists

Installation images

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