Little Dragon & Shadow Puppetry

I am so smitten by Swedish-American-Japanese singer Yukimi Nagano. I already wrote about her in one of my previous posts {here} - and her collaboration with the band Hird. Yukimi is the singer of Little Dragon, a Swedish electronic band that I simply adore. They have a quirky, unique sound highlighted by Yukimi's radiant, experimental and emotional singing. (You can hear them on my blog playlist, located under my Books that inspire & books I desire list.)

 

Their song Twice is so wonderfully ethereal, sad, thrilling and touching - it is "universally hailed as a masterpiece of free thinking soul," and today I saw the video to the same song. You have to watch it. It is so unbelievably-heartbreakingly-beautifully-unique. (I'm running out of superlatives!)

 

The video is a wonderful example of shadow puppetry, created by the highly talented Swedish director Johannes Nyholm. The video also acted as a pilot for his short film "Dreams from the Woods" (”Drömmar från skogen”) which is selected for this year's Directors' Fortnight in Cannes.  

 

“Dreams from the Woods” Movie Synopsis

One day the Girl leaves her friend the Big Bird, seeking adventures in the world. But she gets lost in the deep forest, lured by the melodies of Death´s beautiful flute. A shadow puppet play about love and sorrow.

 

I'll leave you to watch and listen... this is a masterpiece.

 

xoxoxo

 

 

Comments

[Maia]

SO cool! Oooh, I just love shadow puppetry! When I was a little kid, my parents had some Indonesian shadow puppets (the ones made of some sort of dried hide - like thin rawhide - and meant to be manipulated with sticks) hung on our walls as decoration. I had one in my room. Those are a bit eerie and spikey, and you might think a small child would be afraid of them - but I wasn't. I adored them and they sent me off on flights of fantasy as I drifted off to sleep.

(I was, however, for some reason afraid of the Kachina dolls that lived in nooks near the ceiling. Go figure.)

[Jasmine]

hi tina! i love this video and, you're right, yukimi nagano is amazing. i hadn't heard of her so i am very excited that you have introduced me! and i love how this video coordinates with your art.

speaking of, i am also loving your art! i have always had a thing for papercut art and silhouettes...since i was a little girl actually. when i was 3, my parents took me to disneyland, and we sat for a silhouette of the three of us. i thought it was the coolest thing ever.

thanks for your comment on my blog and for reading! isn't it great to love like crazy?? i am so happy i found a man i'm nutso for! :)

[jayne]

This is very cool. I like the mood of it. Thanks for posting this!!

[cgw]

Wow that's amazing and really beautiful! Thanks for posting :)

[hanako66]

I will have to check it out!!

[Kathleen]

Very touching...Do you like Fever Ray? They are a swedish electronic group ... I am so addicted to the song "When i Grow Up", I hear it in my dreams!!

[JGregg]

I met Yukimi and the band at their performance at Detroit Bar (in O.C.). (*I got there early to watch the sound check.) She was soooo nice; just laid back and cool. Ms. Nagano told me how her dad did some of the graphic design on some album/t-shirt art and that her mom lives in Cali. I bought a couple of her bandmates drinks and just had a wonderful evening chillin' out to some great music.

Anyway, cool blog!