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Bjork
Spontaneous Inspiration
Bjork is the only world-famous artist from Iceland--yet she one of the world's most amazing artists. If you don't have a pixie background but at least pay attention to mainstream culture, you might have seen her perform her nominated song at this year's Academy Awards. You might have also heard of or seen 2000 Cannes Festival winner "Dancer in the Dark"--Bjork won best actress at Cannes for her role in that film.
Bjork's persona begins and ends with
one indispensable attribute--style. Her style changes with time and with
place, but it is consistently her own. 
In other words, when Madonna appears in a video looking all Chinese, I think, "a team headed by a some Swedish director created this look." But when Bjork wears a something like this swan dress she wore to this year's Academy Awards, I think, "I bet she made that herself." The thing is, Bjork is way too natural for mainstream.
Her memorable special reincarnations and occasional looks are completely original and maintain style in depth. Bjork is not just a doll dressed up in a costume--she feels what she wears as well. Every look is an icon, something out of a dream. But surprisingly, the dream is alive.
My personal theory on why she is always so natural is Bjork draws her inspiration from real life. Any small, random thing can serve as a source of an idea.
Born Bjork Gudmundsdottir, 21 November 1965, Reykjavik, Iceland. She recorded her first album in 1977, as an 11-year old prodigy. Her next recording outfit was Tappi T'karrass (which apparently translates as 'Cork that bitch's arse'), who recorded two albums between 1981 and 1983. She spent six years with a band Sugarcubes, producing two albums.
Her first breakthrough solo album was Debut, usually associated with the picture on the left. If featured more house and dance style music, and won Best International Newcomer and Best International Artist at 1994 BRIT Awards.
In 1994, she co-wrote the title track for Madonna's Bedtime Stories.
Post, even more eclectic than her previous work, came out in 1995.
After a bland remix album and some restless years, Bjork finally produced her third solo, Homogenic. It was not only exceptionally creative, but also more revealing and personal.
Dancer in the Dark was Bjork's first acting experience ever. She won best actress at Cannes in 2000, but the job was so straining that she vowed never to act again. Reportedly, the director, Lars von Trier, hopes he never has to work with her again--apparently they got in too many fights. The film was accompanied (and probably complicated) by a simultaneous difficult soundtrack Selma's Songs, which Bjork co-wrote with Guy Sigsworth, Mark Bell and Vince Mendoza. However, "I've Seen It All" was nominated for an Oscar for best song.
Despite her loud appearance, Bjork is notorious for her privacy battle with the media. While visiting Thailand, she spotted a reporter in the airport who had previously tried to take pictures of Bjork's son. Recognizing the intruder, Bjork violently attacked the female reporter, knocking her down on the floor and tearing at her hair.
My first encounter with Bjork happened back in Russia, in 1996. I was watching the new music video channel and saw her cute musical-like video "It's So Quiet." Impressed by unusual bold contrasts in the song, I recorded it on a tape (not a video, just sound) next time the video came on (yeah, I connected the tape player to the TV). With that terrible recording, which I still have, began my slow discovery of Bjork. Her style and casualness have influenced me--yes, in part, she's the reason I don't care about so many things.
100% Woman.
Bjork may not be a model, but that doesn't prevent her from flaunting her sexuality in a way few women can. Even in suggestive pictures, her sexiness is completely natural, not vulgar. Hey, Western Literature students: check out the woman-nature connection in those pictures below.
No matter what her image, Bjork is always just a casual, child-like being. Her permanent young spirit allows her to be completely free.
Random Note: For people who haven't grown up in Europe her shirt in this picture probably doesn't mean much. But for those who have, it brings back the ultimate sweet childhood memories. On her shirt is the Moomintroll, the hero from a wonderful series of children's books, "Finn Family Moomintroll."
By the way, it's the cutes, most imaginative book you'll ever read.
Yeah, I don't know how this is related to Bjork.
Check out
Film: Dancer in the Dark
Songs: It's So Quiet, Oxygen, Violently Happy, Scatterhead, I've Seen It All
