Sigur Rós: Valtari
Christian Larson’s Industrial Seduction for the Icelandic Outfit’s New Album
Two isolated individuals carnally collide in Swedish director Christian Larson’s collaboration with Antwerp-born choreographer Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui for the orchestral rockers Sigur Rós. “The dancers copy each other’s movements and flow into one another,” Cherkaoui explains of the sensual ritual.
The video is the 14th in the Valtari Mystery Film Experiment, a series commissioned by the Icelandic band to herald the release of their new album Valtari, giving filmmakers such as Ryan McGinley total creative freedom yet the same budget to interpret the record. Larson, also a trained dancer, has directed commercials for brands like Absolut and Roche Bobois as well as music videos for Tinie Tempah and Swedish House Mafia; for this film he chose four different tracks from Sigur Rós’ recent release: “Ekki Múkk”, “Valtari”, “Rembihnútur” and “Varúð”. Cherkaoui, who worked on projects with the Royal Danish Ballet, Cedar Lake Contemporary Ballet and Anthony Gormley before starting his own company, Eastman, in 2010, enlisted Australian dancers James O’Hara and Nicola Leahey for this stirring piece. “There was an interesting contrast with this very harsh environment,” explains Larson of the fluid choreography for the film, shot in a disused MOD base. “I wanted to try and make a dialogue through movement, without anyone saying anything.”