Godfather to the weird but delectable, industrial-cyborg aesthetic that is prominent these days, Chris Cunningham is a British video artist and director who shaped the style of the underground, music video scene of the mid-90s. It’s hard to imagine artists like Grimes, Arca or Jesse Kanda ever-existing, without the nightmarish influence of the unique mind of Cunningham.

His videos are a treasure trove of futuristic visions and unassuming parodies of the world, creating a visual outlet for the obscure and glitchy beats of legendary producers like Aphex Twin, Autechre and Squarepusher.

Known for his distorted images of faces and for a chameleon-like nature that allowed him to jump between collaborations with huge artists like Björk and Madonna, to directing peculiar commercials for brands such as Levi’s and PlayStation. It was this creativity and adaptability that truly cemented his legacy in the world of visual arts and still keeps his work fresh, relevant and exciting to this day.

While his creative output has mysteriously slowed down over the past decade, his influence and legacy are clear to see in the young artists of today, and we are still excited to see what he has in store for us in the future.

To celebrate this forceful creative talent, here are 10 videos that best summarise the eclectic world of Cunningham, a nightmarish existence that we strangely don’t want to wake up from.

1. Björk- All Is Full of Love (1999)

An unfathomable collaboration between the queen of eccentric pop, Björk and Cunningham, "All Is Full of Love” marries the ancient with the modern digital-world, drawing influence from the Karma Sutra and industrial robotics. In the video, two robots played by Björk herself, undergo construction, slowly unfurling like mechanical flowers before embracing and kissing passionately; exhibiting a humanity and tenderness that is at odds with the sterility of the room surrounding them. Often regarded as one of the greatest music videos of all time “All Is Full of Love” is just as relevant today, as it was when it was released in 1999.

2. Aphex Twin -Come to Daddy (1997)

Filmed on the same council estate used by Stanley Kubrick in his film A Clockwork Orange, “Come to Daddy” is Cunningham’s idea of a practical joke, pasting the face of renowned electronic producer Aphex Twin over the bodies of numerous children, he creates a sinister mood that perfectly encapsulates the chaotic nature of the song. Still hits like a truck, “Come to Daddy” is fundamental viewing.

3. Aphex Twin - Windowlicker (1999)

Another joint effort from the team of Richard D. James (Aphex Twin) and Cunningham, “Windowlicker” is the duo’s ironic take on the “gansta" hip-hop music video, that was so iconic it caused legendary visual artist H. R. Giger to create an illustration in tribute. Buck-toothed women, stretch limousines and slick dance moves, “Windowlicker” is a hilarious sequence of images that doesn’t take itself too seriously; a common theme in the filmography of Cunningham. Described as “eerie lounge-porn music”, featuring rapid breakbeat drums,

interspersed with heavily warped vocals, “Windowlicker” is one of the stand out accomplishments of both artists.

4. Chris Cunningham & Aphex Twin - Rubber Johnny (2005)

Originally conceived as a 30-second commercial to promote Apex Twins’ album drukqs Cunningham weaved a sparse narrative, highlighting the story of a wheelchair-bound boy who morphs his body when he raves. Filmed on infrared night-vision cameras, the video looks like a sick home-made video dug up from the basement of a demented serial killer. “Rubber Johnny” is that special kind of weird, as famous for the reaction that it garners, as the actual content it contains.

5. Chris Cunningham- PlayStation: Mental Wealth (1999)

“Do not underestimate the power of PlayStation” is the tagline for this bizarre short video. A commercial that moulded the mind of the early gaming generation, “Mental Wealth” is a surreal creation sitting at the intersection between art, business and technology. Rumour holds that this commercial was so impactful, it was used to convince David Lynch to start directing videos for PlayStation.

6. Placebo - 36 Degrees (1996)

The third single from their eponymous debut album, “36 Degrees” is a music video directed by Cunningham for the British rock band Placebo. Bathed in Cunningham’s distinctive blue hue and tones, the video features the band members performing underwater in a scuba diving pool. This underwater aesthetic, depicting bodies suspended in motion, is a theme that occurs again in other works from Cunningham such as “Flex” and the music video for Portishead, “Only You”.

7. Madonna- Frozen (1998)

Inspired by the work of American modern dancer Martha Graham, “Frozen” is Cunnigham’s foray into the mainstream, producing the music video for Madonna this time. Tapping into Madonna’s fascination with Eastern mysticism and Kabbalah, Cunningham produced a more stripped-down aesthetic. Rather than create a more narrative structure like precious works Cunningham brought the focus back to the artist, emphasising the personality of Madonna and her performance.

8. Gil Scott-Heron- New York Is Killing Me (Chris Cunningham Visual Mix) (2010)

First debuting the video at the Museum of Modern Art in New York, Cunningham took the Jamie XX produced track for Gil Scott-Heron and remixed it into a darker visual and audio experience. Showcasing the barren and dark streets of New York at night, the song syncs perfectly with the visuals, expressing a different side to Cunningham, hinting at a possible evolution in style for the years to come.

9. Chris Cunningham & Aphex Twin - Monkey Drummer (2001)

Commissioned by the Anthony d’Offay Gallery in London, Monkey Drummer sees Cunningham take a more direct interest in the fine art world. It went on to run in several exhibitions, including the Edinburgh Festival and the Venice Biennale’s International Exhibition of Art. Inspired by vintage wind up monkey toys, the video shows a six-armed mechanised monkey drumming along to the beats of Aphex Twin.

10. Squarepusher - Come On My Selector (1997)

Brain swaps, talking dogs and martial arts, “Come On My Selector” is where Cunningham lets loose, creating a fast paced, frantic whirlwind of a video that perfectly coalesces with the glitched-out rhythms of Squarepusher. The 90s, a time when even the mainstream was weird as hell.

By SAMO