Floria Sigismondi

[ 3 October 2008 ]

Floria Sigismondi

Floria Sigismondi is one of the first artists I ever really discovered via the internet, & she holds a special place in my heart to this day. Born in Italy to two opera singers & named after the main character from Tosca, Floria’s creepy, scuttling aesthetic instantly caught my attention. I remember finding her website — probably in 1997 or 1998 — & saving pretty much every picture on it to my computer.

This was one of my favourites.

Floria Sigismondi

Floria started off as a painter & illustrator, saying that she was transfixed by paintbrushes from an early age. She studied at the Ontario College of Art, but after taking a photography course, became obsessed with the medium & would skip classes to spend time with her camera.

After working as a fashion photographer, she started to make music videos, & that’s what she is most well-known for these days. (She is living proof that we don’t always end up doing what we had planned out for ourselves!)

She’s worked with a huge number of incredible artists, like David Bowie, Marilyn Manson, Tricky, Christina Aguilera, Sigur Rós, Amon Tobin, Björk & The Cure, among others. Her gritty, jittery style is incredibly distinctive & beautiful.


An interview with Floria about her creative process.

Here are some of my favourite music videos by Floria.

(I think Tourniquet by Marilyn Manson is one of the best videos she’s ever done, but I can’t find an embeddable version…)


Christina Aguilera – Fighter


David Bowie – Little Wonder


Sigur Ros – Untitled #1


Fiona Apple – O’ Sailor


Fluffy – Black Eye


Marilyn Manson – The Beautiful People


Tricky – Makes Me Wanna Die

She also made this excellent short film called Postmortem Bliss.

Do you have a favourite music video director? One of my other favourites is Chris Cunningham, who directed Aphex Twin’s Come To Daddy (which terrified me the first time I saw it) & Windowlicker videos, as well as Bjork’s All Is Full Of Love & Madonna’s Frozen. I think he’s amazing!


Super-love & cupcakes,
Gala <3


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Comment

  1. Oooh, a lot of the videos you listed are among my favourites! I like movie-ish videos (ex: the continuous story between Hoobastank’s The Reason and Same Direction videos) and gothic-inspired videos (like Pretty Life by Jakalope, or Silver and Cold by AFI).

    <3 Katoo · Oct 3, 04:09 AM · #

  2. Thank you so much for mentioning Chris Cunningham! I couldn’t remember his name for the life of me a few months back. I discovered him when I watched that Bjork video in my photography class years ago & absolutely loved it & forgot about it until now.

    I don’t really know any music video directors other than Chris Cunningham, to be honest. I find still images a lot more powerful than the moving image— not to say I don’t enjoy it though! I should look up the director’s really when I see an inspiring video, but I’m usually too distracted by the music ;)

    x

    <3 Aimee Marie · Oct 3, 04:19 AM · #

  3. oooo I knew most of those clips and never knew who did them. I’ve always loved The Smashing Pumpkins flim clips (ava adore, tonight, tonight, today + 1979 are probably my favourite) though I’m unsure who made them.

    I love the idea that, career wise, you can start somewhere and end up somewhere amazing and unexpected. I really would like to know where I’ll end up (I have a degree in Media + Comm and am currently studying audio engineering) but I’m afraid that will ruin the suprise!

    <3 ruby · Oct 3, 04:28 AM · #

  4. I love this! i’ve never heard of her before (but i clearly should have) AND I love david bowie, AND she went to OCAD. amazing.

    but i have to say.. my favourite music video-or-otherwise director is MIchel Gondry. no doubt.

    <3 salcin · Oct 3, 04:33 AM · #

  5. I like Michel Gondry — he directed The Science of Sleep & Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, as well as many music videos by The White Stripes & Björk.

    <3 Cassidy · Oct 3, 04:35 AM · #

  6. I like Travis Kopach for “Lying is the most fun a girl can have without taking her clothes off”.

    <3 Julie · Oct 3, 04:59 AM · #

  7. I’ve always loved that video for Sigur Ross…
    Itś when you see the end part that you start to understand the video, and the story behind it…

    (Sigur Ross is amazing too !)

    <3 eternalvoyageur · Oct 3, 05:06 AM · #

  8. BIG Michel Gondry fan :) I love how he makes magical, warm, sweet videos and films without resorting to sickly sentimentality.

    Also a fan of Chris Cunningham (have you seen ‘Rubber Johnny’? A short film soundtracked by Aphex Twin) and Spike Jonze.

    And whilst I didn’t know Floris Sigismondi before today, I was certainly familiar with her work. The Sigur Ros video in particular.

    <3 Joanne · Oct 3, 05:10 AM · #

  9. The first thought I had when I saw the picture you sited as one of your favorites was, “That looks like a scene in the Beautiful People video.” Scroll down, and what do you know… there’s a reason for the resemblance. Thanks for directing my attention to Ms. Sigismondi’s work. Turns out I was a fan of hers from the music videos and never even knew it.

    <3 Marissa · Oct 3, 05:35 AM · #

  10. Ooh, I absolutely love music videos!

    One of my inspirations is Hype Williams, he’s the mastermind behind a lot of the simple & crisp rap videos… my favorites being of Kanye West, absolutely stunning!

    <3 Blair · Oct 3, 05:35 AM · #

  11. Thank you so much Gala for mentioning Floria Sigismondi! I am a big fan of hers especially for The Cure’s music video “The End of the World”, incredible and The White Stripes “Blue Orchid” which I think is absolutely fantastic.
    I also love Michel Gondry for The Chemical Brothers “Star Guitar”, a song that you wish would never end and makes you feel like you’re riding in a train.
    And of course huge props to Marc Webb for Regina Spektor’s “Fidelity” video. I LOVE the black and white and the introduction to color in the end.

    <3 Heather · Oct 3, 05:36 AM · #

  12. I had never even really thought of music videos as having directors before today. I suppose because there are that many crap clips out there that are so not to ever be considered art. It’s great to see some really, really good ones.

    I think I’ll have to look around at all the suggestions made here – I certainly love the Floria Sigismondi videos you’ve shown here, although I must profess I like her photography better. She certainly is master of all trades!

    <3 Song · Oct 3, 05:44 AM · #

  13. yes!!! cunningham, gondry, jonze! they are the ultimate in music video brilliance!!

    <3 joy · Oct 3, 06:02 AM · #

  14. Love female artists for embracing the feminine, yet being gritty and real. It’s so weird how you mention things that are really relevant to me. hahaha – the Come To Daddy video. I liked him as well! It freaked me out but i find it hilarious to show everyone. Have you seen Rhubarb Donkey on youtube by Aphex Twin? It’s a hidden gem. Honestly.

    Thank you Gala! xo

    <3 seren · Oct 3, 06:12 AM · #

  15. Sooo, I know he’s pretty ubiquitous, but I do love me some Dave LaChepple. Can you really argue with the man who directed “Heroin is so Passe” and included puking clowns, high kicking needles and 80s-rific dancers? I think not.

    <3 sarah von · Oct 3, 06:21 AM · #

  16. I have a soft spot for roman coppola. especially the video for funky squaredance by pheonix: au.youtube.com/watch?v=NbzP9oY…
    it’s so simple, yet so freaking weird at the same time and so perfect and hilarious and meaningful. I think things that remind you that anything is possible in art, and that you can pour yourself into it and get people involved in it are really wonderful things. “this video is me peeling many potatoes for you.” it’s demanding, but it’s worth it.
    he also did that video for the strokes, last nite, which, again, is simple, but just slightly off-kilter also.

    <3 Professor Confessor · Oct 3, 06:21 AM · #

  17. I love Floria Sigismondi. Her works are so my type. I shall go watch it all now. Thank you for reminding us!

    Michel Gondri. Turns out he made the most memorable videos I’ve seen since I was younger and before I even knew about him.

    And Martin de Thurah!
    www.youtube.com/watch?v=ir2Ft
    www.youtube.com/watch?v=O2Vxjn…
    www.youtube.com/watch?v=P4TWar…

    <3 Cola · Oct 3, 06:23 AM · #

  18. The Christina Aguilera video is one of my favorites! It’s so creative!

    <3 Danielle · Oct 3, 07:06 AM · #

  19. I was just thinking the other day about how ‘Fighter’ is one of my favourite music videos purely because of the artisticness of it, and now I know who’s behind it! =] Thank you for posting this – very inspirational! &hearts;

    <3 Becky · Oct 3, 07:07 AM · #

  20. The thought of Floria woking on a feature film is just too exciting!

    <3 Lucy · Oct 3, 08:10 AM · #

  21. I love all Kanye West’s music videos. Flashing Lights, Good Life and Gold digger being my particular favourites.
    That Christina Aguilera video is so enchanting. I forget how powerful some of the songs from her first album really were.

    <3 Maya · Oct 3, 08:11 AM · #

  22. i gotta second chris cunningham! rubber johnny is one of the most amazing things i have ever seen.

    www.youtube.com/watch?v=0wXVnn…

    freaked me out so bad the first time i watched it…

    <3 Rachel Radness! · Oct 3, 09:09 AM · #

  23. Do I sense the death of TiLT ?

    <3 eternalvoyageur · Oct 3, 09:26 AM · #

  24. noo…TiLT can’t die..i’ve been waiting for it all day :(

    <3 em · Oct 3, 09:36 AM · #

  25. Like everybody else.. Michel Gondry.

    Especially because of this:
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gLESpHrtvxs

    along with his sweded trailer for his own movie (be kind rewind).

    <3 Kristen · Oct 3, 11:31 AM · #

  26. Floria! I adore her! Also love Chris Cunningham, Michel Gondry, Spike Jonze & Jonas Åkerlund.

    Music videos were what first peaked my interest in film really and when I was 16 I really wanted to direct music videos for a living! And funnily enough it was Bjork’s All Is Full Of Love that started it all! It’s my favourite video ever.

    Ever since then I’ve been obsessed with film and visuals, although I now want to be a writer. You could say that Literature is my husband and will be my life long partner but Film will always be my first love, and all because of music videos ♥

    <3 Samantha · Oct 3, 11:36 AM · #

  27. You should get her to do a career article. i love the david bowie video.

    <3 willa · Oct 3, 01:31 PM · #

  28. wow gala! she is utterly fabulous. i dont have favourite artists- im more about the people who inspire them.

    xx

    <3 MJ · Oct 3, 01:38 PM · #

  29. Ooh she is so talented. Gorgeous! Love the Torniquet video.

    Michel Gondry is my favourite too.
    x

    <3 Jazial · Oct 3, 02:01 PM · #

  30. My favourite music video is New Soul by Yael Naim. It makes me so happy! I don’t know who directed it, but whoever it is, they are talented.

    www.youtube.com/watch?v=

    <3 orinoco · Oct 3, 02:10 PM · #

  31. Directing and producing music videos is my ultimate dream career so this is just too yummy for me! I love Floria too, her vision is just so unique.
    Thanks Gala!

    <3 Saccharine · Oct 3, 02:45 PM · #

  32. I quite like Floria Sigismondi as well! I discovered her years ago because she shot three music videos for a Canadian band called The Tea Party that I used to listen to. A few years ago, I went to see an exhibit of hers at a contemporary art gallery in Toronto. It was pretty interesting! I seem to remember sculptures made out of mannequins with video screens in them.

    <3 Dara · Oct 3, 04:07 PM · #

  33. I really like Adria Petty’s music videos. She did the ones for Regina Spektor’s Us, The Ditty Bops’s Wishful Thinking, which are probably my most favorite music videos of all time.

    www.youtube.com/watch?v=q7GboI… & www.youtube.com/watch?v=EHu9vG…

    Mad kudos to Floria, though. I could recognize her music video style immediately while previously viewing all of those videos, but I never put a name to the videos.

    <3 Liz · Oct 3, 04:59 PM · #

  34. AH! I remember seeing the Frozen video when that song came out…I must’ve been, like, what, 9 years old? I still hold that to be my first true introduction to goth.

    Thanks for this post! What a romantic-sounding origin Floria has! I can’t wait to watch all her videos…

    <3 Alice · Oct 3, 05:14 PM · #

  35. As soon as you mentioned she had “gritty, jittery style” and had worked with Christina Aguilera, I immediately knew it had to be on the ‘Fighter’ clip! Utterly phenomenal aesthetic, very moody and mysterious and dark. Very suited to the amazing Marilyn Manson!

    Of course Dave LaChapelle is one of the photography/music video artists that everyone seems to know about and enjoy. His use of colour and drama and exaggeration is divine!

    <3 iris =) · Oct 3, 05:46 PM · #

  36. lol. the passage about saving every one of her images from her website in the late nineties – that’s what i did! (probably a lot of tortured adolescents did this, but still – how weird!)

    anyway, her work is so gorgeous, and i swear she has one of the best names in the world (though gala darling is up there too :P)

    <3 Natalie · Oct 3, 06:04 PM · #

  37. Things I Love Friday? :))

    <3 buy.my.love.with.chocolate · Oct 3, 06:08 PM · #

  38. wow, she is incredible! And smack a someone’s butt for me in gay Pari (and make sure the someone returns one to you from me)!

    <3 fractal · Oct 3, 07:05 PM · #

  39. I remembered the first time I watched “Fighter”, I was sitting in the coutch with a friend and I say “Wow, this looks a lot like a Manson video” and he said to me “Don’t be silly, Manson people would never work with Christina Aguilera”, hahahaha.

    <3 Aurea · Oct 3, 10:30 PM · #

  40. aah. I love her work too! :D Floria’s just amazing.

    <3 lulu · Oct 4, 12:45 AM · #

  41. You forgot “Super Massive Black Hole” by Muse. Shock HORROR. (On my part anyway..)

    <3 Melanie · Oct 4, 03:16 AM · #

  42. Wow! Floria Sigismondi is totally awesome! I totally cried at “Postmortem Bliss” and I don’t even know why. Wow.

    <3 Caroline · Oct 5, 02:15 AM · #

  43. Chris Cunningham is also one of the sexiest men alive- seriously… I’ve spent time with him and I would gladly have his babies…

    <3 Laura Kitty · Oct 6, 01:55 PM · #

  44. Whoa. I saw “Postmortem Bliss” during a short films segment on Turner Classic Movies years ago! I remember liking it a lot. Thanks for posting!

    <3 Sarah · Oct 6, 05:53 PM · #

  45. i love floria sigismondi! she’s been my favourite music video director since i was about 13 years old : )

    <3 jolene · Oct 7, 07:13 AM · #

  46. Weee!!!!!!!!!! MY FIRST LOVE (hem hem digital love)

    <3 SaGru · Oct 10, 12:01 AM · #

  47. just wanted to letcha’ know there was a great interview in Lula magazine with her in the most recent issue with adorable pictures of Floria and her daughter. it was really inspiring!

    <3 Rachel Radness! · Nov 1, 08:34 AM · #
 

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