Björk: Archives

Björk: Archives presents a comprehensive exploration of the Icelandic artist's career through her first seven studio albums, from Debut (1993) through Biophilia (2011). The book combines visual and written elements, including photography, poetry, academic analysis, and philosophical texts. The publication features contributions from Björk's notable collaborators and was created under the guidance of Björk herself alongside MoMA curator Klaus Biesenbach. The collection includes work from renowned photographers like Nan Goldin and Jürgen Teller, plus images of costumes by celebrated designers Hussein Chalayan and Alexander McQueen. Released in 2015 alongside a MoMA exhibition, the book comes with five supplementary booklets and a poster showcasing album artwork. This marks Björk's first published work since her 2001 autobiography. The volume serves as both a documentation of Björk's artistic evolution and an examination of how she has consistently pushed boundaries in music, visual art, and performance across multiple decades.

Readers report the book offers comprehensive visual documentation of Björk's career through photos, costumes, lyrics and memorabilia. Liked: - High quality binding and paper stock - Detailed photographs of stage costumes - Inclusion of Biophilia app materials - Preservation of handwritten lyrics and notes Disliked: - Text heavy sections printed in small fonts - Box set packaging arrives damaged - High price point ($60-75) - Limited coverage of early career/Sugarcubes era Ratings: Goodreads: 4.45/5 (89 ratings) Amazon: 4.3/5 (32 reviews) Several readers note the book excels as a visual archive but lacks depth in written analysis. One Amazon reviewer writes: "Beautiful presentation but text is difficult to read - style over substance." Multiple Goodreads reviews mention wanting more behind-the-scenes content and personal reflections from Björk herself. The slipcase packaging receives frequent criticism, with reports of corners arriving dented or split despite careful shipping.

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🎵 Björk's groundbreaking album "Debut" (1993) was actually her second solo album - her first was released in 1977 when she was only 11 years old. 📸 The book features photographs by Nan Goldin, who is known for her intimate and raw documentation of counterculture communities, making her collaboration with Björk particularly significant. 👗 Among the iconic costumes documented in the Archives is the famous "swan dress" designed by Marjan Pejoski, which Björk wore to the 2001 Academy Awards and became one of fashion's most memorable red carpet moments. 🏛️ The MoMA exhibition that accompanied this book was one of the museum's few retrospectives dedicated to a living musician, placing Björk's work in the context of contemporary art rather than just popular music. 🎨 Each of the five supplementary booklets in the Archives corresponds to one of Björk's senses - showcasing how she incorporates synesthesia (the blending of senses) into her artistic process.