Monkey Drummer
Encyclopedia
Monkey Drummer is a 2.5 minute long music video
created by acclaimed British music video director Chris Cunningham
in 2001. The video was commissioned by the Anthony d'Offay
Gallery in London and was meant to be a companion piece to his Flex
commercial, but it wasn't completed in time for the exhibition in September 2000 and instead made its debut at the Venice Biennale
's 49th International Exhibition of Art in November 2001. It subsequently went on to run in several exhibitions such as the Edinburgh Festival, Edinburgh College of Art, Scotland. The short is a humorous, kinetic study of a mechanical being with nine appendages -- six arms, two legs, and one drumstick penis -- all seemingly controlled by the head of a monkey, though it's unclear what's in control. Each flesh-and-blood body part, jutting from a black steel appendage. The overall effect is somewhat off-putting. Each body part acts authentically human, while being controlled so mechanically.
. It is the 10th track in his album drukqs
which was released in 2001.
The owner of the different body parts playing in the video is Sigtryggur Baldursson
or "Siggi", a founding member of Icelandic rock band The Sugarcubes
. He was shot multiple times in various positions with his torso being chopped off in post-production
and replaced with a mechanical torso.
"The idea came from those little mechanical windup monkeys from the last century, the ones with the red faces. ... Thought it would be really amazing to see a 21st Century one that was drumming to something ridiculously insane like a really fast Aphex Twin track."
Music video
A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
created by acclaimed British music video director Chris Cunningham
Chris Cunningham
Chris Cunningham is an English music video film director and video artist. He was born in Reading, Berkshire in 1970 and grew up in Lakenheath, Suffolk....
in 2001. The video was commissioned by the Anthony d'Offay
Anthony d'Offay
Anthony d'Offay is a British art dealer, he closed his gallery - Anthony d’Offay Gallery - in 2002.-Life and career:...
Gallery in London and was meant to be a companion piece to his Flex
Flex (film)
Flex is a 2000 video installation by the British video artist Chris Cunningham. It consists of a 15 minute film loop that endlessly depicts a naked man and woman floating in darkness, who by turns embrace and furiously beat one another, culminating in an act of anal sex during which they disappear...
commercial, but it wasn't completed in time for the exhibition in September 2000 and instead made its debut at the Venice Biennale
Venice Biennale
The Venice Biennale is a major contemporary art exhibition that takes place once every two years in Venice, Italy. The Venice Film Festival is part of it. So too is the Venice Biennale of Architecture, which is held in even years...
's 49th International Exhibition of Art in November 2001. It subsequently went on to run in several exhibitions such as the Edinburgh Festival, Edinburgh College of Art, Scotland. The short is a humorous, kinetic study of a mechanical being with nine appendages -- six arms, two legs, and one drumstick penis -- all seemingly controlled by the head of a monkey, though it's unclear what's in control. Each flesh-and-blood body part, jutting from a black steel appendage. The overall effect is somewhat off-putting. Each body part acts authentically human, while being controlled so mechanically.
Making the video
The music playing in the video is the first two and a half minute's of "Mt Saint Michel + Saint Michaels Mount" by Aphex TwinAphex Twin
Richard David James , best known under the pseudonym Aphex Twin, is an Irish-born electronic musician and composer described as "the most inventive and influential figure in contemporary electronic music"...
. It is the 10th track in his album drukqs
Drukqs
Drukqs is a 2001 double album by electronic musician Richard D. James, released under his most frequently used pseudonym, Aphex Twin...
which was released in 2001.
The owner of the different body parts playing in the video is Sigtryggur Baldursson
Sigtryggur Baldursson
Sigtryggur Baldursson is an Icelandic drummer and singer.Sigtryggur was born in Norway to Icelandic parents. He was a founding member of the Sugarcubes and has been a longtime fixture on the Icelandic punk and alternative music scene. Other bands he has played in have included Þeyr, KUKL,...
or "Siggi", a founding member of Icelandic rock band The Sugarcubes
The Sugarcubes
The Sugarcubes were an Icelandic alternative rock band formed in 1986 and disbanded in 1992. They received critical and popular acclaim internationally.-History:...
. He was shot multiple times in various positions with his torso being chopped off in post-production
Post-production
Post-production is part of filmmaking and the video production process. It occurs in the making of motion pictures, television programs, radio programs, advertising, audio recordings, photography, and digital art...
and replaced with a mechanical torso.
"The idea came from those little mechanical windup monkeys from the last century, the ones with the red faces. ... Thought it would be really amazing to see a 21st Century one that was drumming to something ridiculously insane like a really fast Aphex Twin track."
Further information
- The video was distributed on a Creative ReviewCreative ReviewCreative Review is a monthly magazine targeted on the commercial arts and design scene. Creative Review has a circulation of around 20,000 readers. In general it focuses content on media originating in United Kingdom, Europe, and the United States, showcasing some of the best contemporary...
DVD in November 2001, and is also featured on the DVD called Directors LabelDirectors LabelDirectors Label is a series of DVDs devoted to notable music video directors. First released in 2003 by Palm Pictures, the series was created by Spike Jonze, Chris Cunningham, and Michel Gondry, the subjects of the first three volumes. Four new volumes were released in 2005, this time featuring...
- The Work of Director Chris CunninghamChris CunninghamChris Cunningham is an English music video film director and video artist. He was born in Reading, Berkshire in 1970 and grew up in Lakenheath, Suffolk....
- which was released in 2003.
- The video went on to win Best 3D animation in a music video in the International Monitor Awards in 2002.
See also
- Chris CunninghamChris CunninghamChris Cunningham is an English music video film director and video artist. He was born in Reading, Berkshire in 1970 and grew up in Lakenheath, Suffolk....
- Flex (film)Flex (film)Flex is a 2000 video installation by the British video artist Chris Cunningham. It consists of a 15 minute film loop that endlessly depicts a naked man and woman floating in darkness, who by turns embrace and furiously beat one another, culminating in an act of anal sex during which they disappear...
- Rubber JohnnyRubber JohnnyRubber Johnny is a six-minute experimental short film and music video directed by Chris Cunningham in 2005, using music composed by Aphex Twin. The name Rubber Johnny is drawn from a British slang for "condom" as well as a description of the main character, which explains the title sequence...
- Adam Dawson