Considering the Quays

The Quay Brothers are two of the world’s most original filmmakers. The identical twins studied illustration in Philadelphia before going on to the Royal College of Art in London, where they made animated shorts in the 1970s. Influenced by a tradition of Eastern European animation, the Quays display a passion for detail, a breathtaking command of color and texture, and an uncanny use of focus and camera movement that make their films unique and instantly recognizable. The exhibition Quay Brothers: On Deciphering the Pharmacist's Prescription for Lip-Reading Puppets is on view at The Museum of Modern Art in New York through January 7, 2013.

"Commentators have suggested that the Quay Brothers channel the art of Edvard Munch, Francis Bacon, and Joseph Cornell, share the cinematic temperament of contemporary filmmakers like David Lynch and Guy Maddin, and demonstrate a talent for both animation and live-action that is comparable to that of the surrealist Czech director Jan Svankmajer and mainstream moviemaker Tim Burton." - Glenn D. Lowry, Director, The Museum of Modern Art

Special thanks to Edward Waisnis, the liaison for the Quay Brothers regarding the MoMA exhibition, and Benjamin Crossley-Marra of Zeitgeist Films.