Film decors by the Brothers Quay
The Brothers Quay are hypertalented stop-motion animators whose incredibly surreal, moody, and macabre work is influenced by Cezch and Polish animators and puppeteers from the early 20th century and writers like Franz Kafka and Belgian playwright Michel de Ghelderode. Parsons the New School for Design in New York City is currently exhibiting set, propos, and characters from the Quays' films. The show, titled "Dormitorium: Film Decors by the Quay Bros.," runs until October 4. Morbid Anatomy's Joanna Ebenstein visited the exhibit last night and took a series of lovely photos that posted on her blog. From her post:
"Dormitorium" is much more than just a collection of props and artifacts; instead, the "décors" you see on view here are something of a revelation, leading one to a greater understanding and appreciation of the Quay Brother's artistry. Having the luxury of time to study these décors in their static state allows the viewer to see things impossible to grasp amidst the thrust and drive of the films; namely, the obsessive and beautiful detail in the source materials. The more one looks, the more one comes to realize that this attention to detail and minutia is what gives the Quay's work so much of its character and mise en scène--at least as much as their lurchy, atmospheric, uncanny stop-motion animation technique. Details such as exquisite and varied typography and calligraphy, a judicious application of dust and grime, the seductively hand-made feel of the materials, and wall hangings, hidden figures, archaic signage and other easy-to-miss details adorning the spaces; of these elements is the Quay's compelling and absorbing universe composed."Dormitorium: Film Decors by the Quay Bros. (Morbid Anatomy)
Phantom Museums: The Short Films of the Quay Brothers, a career-spanning retrospective of their films, is available in a two-disk DVD set for $30 from Amazon.
the latest
latest episodes
It was only a matter of time before the rising curve of steampunk would impact messily upon the hidden, waiting speedbump of Brothers Quay nostalgia.
I know what I mean.
I know what you meant, too, Yamara.
The Quay Bros. are awesomesauce.
Man, I hate living in a backwards city that doesn't care about art. Why do the cool cities get to hog all of the art?
I have loved the BroQuays since 1988. Some of the most haunting and lovely images and sounds ever to pass my eyes and ears.
I also highly recommend their live-action film, Institute Benjamenta, based on the german novel Jakob von Guten. It is truly hauntingly beautiful, though remarkably difficult to find.
Hyper-talented and awesomesauce barely begin to describe the supremely amazing talent of the Brothers Quay. I discovered them about a decade ago and immediately fell in love. Their stuff is haunting and creative, and their sets and props are rich and astoundingly well-made.
As a filmmaker, what grabbed me the most was the production quality. I would often cheer out loud or voice my astonishment with particular shots or elements.
Their work is tough to find, but absolutely worth it. I'm seriously considering buying a ticket to NYC just to see this!
Are these the same guys who did the "Tool" videos from way back when? Haunting, I can pull my eyes away from the screen, disturbingly beautiful videos.
No. No. No. I just got back from a week-long vacation in the City. I really wish this post would have shown up 1-2 weeks ago. Oh well.
@Anonymous #7 Yup, same guys. And those were pretty much the apogee of music videos.
@ #7:
The brothers Quay didn't do the Tool videos, but those videos are clearly very influenced by (or swiped from) the Quays.
No, they didn't do the Tool videos. Those were done by Fred Stuhr and Adam Jones. They were "inspired" by the Brothers Quay.
No, they did NOT do the Tool videos. Those were done by the guitarist's wife, Camella Grace and her best friend, Robyn Breen. The two women mostly focus their energy on photography now, of which I was once their model. http://www.spiraleyes.com/
Your post reminded me of this: the Brothers came to do a lunchtime talk for us a few years back at Disney, and at one point one of them said that cutting off the ends of deer antlers smells just like semen. It got a great, confused reaction from the room!
They most certainly DID do the Tool video. Okay. I made that up.
although they DID do an amazing video for "Long Way Down" for Michael Penn in the 90's.
Many Americans have a tendency to pronounce words the way they see them spelled. Everyone I've ever met pronounces Quay as in "sway," but it is pronounced Key. I learned this in New Zealand when people there called the wharfs keys, written on the street signs as "Quay."
I think wharf and key are interesting words as subtext to the Brothers Quay and their art. I
found them in animation school. I didn't want to be "that guy" in class, so I didn't bother mentioning the correct pronunciation. But, while I have the thousands of you here...
@16 EICHAELTHEONE
No no no, it's pronounced "kway". I should know, I've shared a bottle of wine with one of the brothers. You can also read this little bit of information (the correct pronounciation, that is) in the booklet of their BFI DVD release.
Yes, the NOUN quay is pronounced "key", but the brother's NAME is another issue. (Also, they are American. Although residing in London.)
And #9 CHURCH -- no no no, they did not do the Tool videos.
@17 JASONCLOCK
I admit I asserted that just to see if anyone would dispute it. Given I haven't seen the DVD booklet, I'll take your word for it. Thank you for the polite correction.
I just happened to see an exhibit today at the Wellcome Collection in London which features one of the Brothers Quay's more recent short films "The Phantom Museum".
In the film, they animate various historical medical objects from Sir Henry Wellcome's medical collection, all of which can be seen on display in the same room! I definitely urge all boing-boingers in London to go see it!
Also they've got a delightful exhibit of strange medical models of embryos, dissections and various "social diseases," etc. called Exquisite Bodies.
I just happened to see an exhibit today at the Wellcome Collection in London which features one of the Brothers Quay's more recent short films "The Phantom Museum".
In the film, they animate various historical medical objects from Sir Henry Wellcome's medical collection, all of which can be seen on display in the same room! I definitely urge all boing-boingers in London to go see it!
Also they've got a delightful exhibit of strange medical models of embryos, dissections and various "social diseases," etc. called Exquisite Bodies.
#13 - We used to make, er, tobacco pipes from antlers to sell at Bread & Puppet. Yeah, hot cut antler smells like sperm. Yeah, I was a teenage neohippie.
Meanwhile, the show is incredible beyond words. I always loved the Brothers, and Street of Crocodiles gave me nightmares for months when I was a lad, and to actually SEE the doll head puppets, in all their dusty Czech-feel glory....augh....the craft on these little sets should make any Maker antler in his or her jorts. I'm SOOO glad I moved down here - Francis Bacon retrospective, now this? Phew.
you were at Bread and Puppet? Tell us a story?
Whoa, they didn't do the Tool vid? Really?
That's too weird. That's how I found out about them in the first place.