Stephen and Timothy Quay, identical twins, were born in Norristown, near Philadelphia, in 1947. After graduating in 1969 from the Philadelphia College of Art, where they studied illustration and graphics, they won a scholarship to the Royal College of Art, London. At the School of Film and Television they made their first short films, and met Keith Griffiths, who first collaborated with them on Nocturna Artificialia (1979).
Working together at Koninck Studios, with Griffiths producing, the Quays have continued a steady production of surreal puppet animation films, also with design work for opera, theatre and ballet. To help finance their projects they have also worked on TV commercials, numerous music videos, including the Stille Nacht series, and Peter Gabriel's Sledgehammer.
The Quays are famous for their expert methods and their unusual sources of inspiration. Apart from their puppets, which look like old dolls abused by many generations of children, they construct their own sets, arrange the lighting, and operate the cameras.
Music usually plays a major part in creating a bizarre, frightening atmosphere.
References:
- Buchan, Suzanne H., 'The Quay Brothers: Choreographed Chiaroscuro, Enigmatic and Sublime', Film Quarterly v. 51, n. 3, Spring 1998, pp. 2-15
- Greenaway, Peter, 'Street of Crocodiles', Sight and Sound, Summer 1986, pp. 182-183
- Hammond, Paul, 'In Quay Animation', Afterimage 13, Autumn 1987, pp.54-67
- Quay, Stephen and Timothy, 'Picked-up Pieces', Monthly Film Bulletin, June 1986, pp. 164-165
- Romney, Jonathan, 'The Same Dark Drift', Sight and Sound, March 1992, pp. 24-27
- Romney, Jonathan, 'Life's a Dream', Sight and Sound, August 1995, pp. 12-15
- Tomlinson, Lynne, 'Launching the Quays', Animation Journal v.9, 2001, pp.5-19
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