Daniel Askill

Early life and work

Askill was born in Sydney in 1977. He has two brothers: Lorin Askill (a director, editor, photographer and artist) and Jordan Askill (a jewelry designer). He initially studied visual communication at the University of Technology Sydney in 1997 before moving to London, studying at the Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design in 1999.

Working freelance in London, he was involved in design work and film direction. Also during his time in London, he engaged in visual design work for Alexander McQueen.

In 2001, Askill returned to Sydney and founded multimedia production and design studio Collider with his colleagues Andrew van der Westhuyzen and Sam Zalaiskalns. The studio has since expanded and presently has a large roster of staff and directors.

In addition to his background in film and video, Askill also has a background in music composition and performance. He also recorded an album with shakuhachi player Riley Lee when he was 19. With Collider, Askill directed short films, fashion films and commercials for companies including Sony, Dior Homme and Xbox.

''We Have Decided Not To Die''

In 2003, Askill wrote and directed the critically acclaimed, surreal short film We Have Decided Not To Die. Exhibited in various international film festivals, the film won prizes at the Clermont-Ferrand festival in France, Melbourne International in Australia, Brooklyn International and South by Southwest in the United States. The work is notable for its portrayal of the human body, ritual and use of visceral special effects. It was described by film critic Susan Shineberg in the Sydney Morning Herald as "a breathtaking, burnished triptych, it evokes a surreal, ritualistic world whose characters appear to float free of space and time".

Works

Along with his video art he has also directed numerous music videos for artists such as Sia, These New Puritans and Phoenix. He directed Phoenix's Rally (2007) and Consolation Prizes (2006)

Askill was also commissioned to make films for fashion companies like Ksubi, Another Magazine, Dior and Acne.

In 2009, Askill collaborated with the Sydney Dance Company in its creative work We Unfold. Askill was commissioned to provide video art to screen alongside the work which was exhibited at the Venice Biennale in 2010.

Askill's most recent, solo exhibitions Modern Worship (2011) and Three Rituals (2011) have been exhibited in Los Angeles and Sydney. The works are described as "a meditation on the notion of ritual and how it can be viewed through the eyes of modern culture" and use video installation, photography and sculpture. At the ARIA Music Awards of 2014 he won Best Video, co-directing with Sia Furler, on her music video, "Chandelier" (March 2014).

List of works

Film

• We Have Decided Not to Die (2003)
• Take Flight - The New York Times (2015)
• Universal Machine (2019)

Artistic works

• Modern Worship (2011)
• Slow Work on a Bright Screen (2010)
• Triptych and Transforming (2010)
• Artefacts from The Fifth Ritual (2009)
• We Unfold (2009)
• Suspending Disbelief (2008)
• Angel (2007)

Music videos

• David Guetta and Sia – Beautiful People (2025)
• Flume feat. Caroline Polachek – Sirens (2022)
• Lady Gaga – Stupid Love (2020)
• Sia – Rainbow (2017)
• Sia – The Greatest (2016)
• Sia – Cheap Thrills (Performance Edit) (2016)
• Sia – Alive (2016)
• Sia – Big Girls Cry (2015)
• Sia – Elastic Heart (2015)
• Sia – Chandelier (2014)
• These New Puritans – Fragment Two (2013)
• WIM – See You Hurry (2011)
• These New Puritans – We Want War (2009)
• Digitalism – Pogo (2007)
• Phoenix – Rally (2007)
• Placebo – Follow the Cops (2006)
• Phoenix – Consolation Prizes (2006)
• Unkle feat. Ian Brown – Reign (2005)
• Sia – Breathe Me (2004)

Commercials

Askill has also directed a number of commercials for companies including, Sony, BMW, Dior Homme, and Xbox.

• Sony – New York City Ballet
• Smirnoff – Purity
• BMW – Climate Control
• History Channel – Hero
• Xbox – Faces
• Dior Homme – Jude Law
• Cadillac – Roll
• Airfrance – Swimming Pool
• Lexus – Merge
• Hummer – Chairs
• Panasonic – Olympic Art

Selected exhibitions and screenings

• Prism, Los Angeles – Three Rituals – 2011
• Gallery A.S, Sydney – Modern Worship – 2011
• Nam June Paik Art Center, Seoul, Korea- Souvenirs from Earth – 2011
• Venice Biennale, Venice, Italy – We Unfold – 2010
• World Expo, Shanghai, China – We Unfold – 2010
• ASVOFF Centre Pompidou, Paris, France- Nocturna – 2010
• RAFW, Sydney- Suspending Disbelief – 2009
• Monster Children Gallery, Sydney- Artefacts From The Fifth Ritual – 2009
• Palais de Tokyo, Paris – France Artcurial for Amnesty International – 2008
• Werkleitz Biennale, Halle, Germany – Happy Believers – 2006 (group)
• Institute of Contemporary Art, London, UK – onedotzero – 2004
• ARTSPACE, Sydney, Australia – We Have Decided Not To Die – 2003

References

References

1. (July 2019). "Prismla artist biography". Three Rituals Exhibit Page.
2. "Daniel Askill of Collider Interview". Pedestrian.tv.
3. "MY SPACE: MR DANIEL ASKILL". Mr. Porter.
4. "The Askill Brothers".
5. "We Have Decided Not To Die Press Kit".
6. "Where&What + Meet The Sydney Creatives Behind Collider". The Galeries.
7. Georgiou, Oliver. "Science of Movement". The Blackmail....
8. "Daniel Askill: Dillinger Magazine". Dillinger Magazine.
9. (4 May 2011). "Daniel Askill's Modern Worship". ABC Arts Online.
10. "Australian Music Centre – Riley Lee Discography Page". Australian Music Centre.
11. Catsoullis, Jeanette. (21 July 2006). "Alternatives to the Multiplex in 'The World According to Shorts'". New York Times.
12. Mair, Tracey. "Australian success at Clermont-Ferrand Short Film Festival, France". Australian Film Commission Press Releases.
13. "Brooklyn Film Festival film details – We Have Decided Not To Die".
14. "Festivals and Awards: International Awards Winners 2004". Screen Australia.
15. "We Have Decided Not To Die".
16. Shineberg, Susan. (13 February 2004). "Ten minutes to die for". Sydney Morning Herald.
17. "Update: Phoenix to work with Jordan and Daniel Askill's father, Michael". Pedestrian.tv.
18. "Phoenix – Rally". Collider Projects Page.
19. "Phoenix – Consolation Prizes". Collider Project Page.
20. (3 May 2011). "Dazed Digital: Ksubi Kolors Film". Dazed Digital.
21. "Farhenheit 32 by Daniel Askill & Hedi Slimane".
22. "Askill on Acne for Cruise 11 (video)". The Vine.
23. "We Unfold". Sydney Dance Company.
24. Mackrell, Judith. (7 June 2010). "Dance finds a perfect partner in Venice". The Guardian.
25. "2014 ARIA Awards Winners by Year". [[Australian Recording Industry Association]] (ARIA).
26. "See You Hurry Project Page".
27. "We Want War Project Page".
28. "Pogo Project Page".
29. "Rally Project Page".
30. "Follow the Cops Project Page".
31. "Consolation Prizes Project Page".
32. "Reign Project Page".
33. "Breathe Me Project Page".
34. "Daniel Askill Modern Worship". Concrete Playground.
35. "Souvenirs From Earth Artist Biography – Daniel Askill".
36. "Event page – Sydney Dance Company "We Unfold"". Venice Biennale Programme.
37. Machalias, Helen. (11 May 2010). "we unfold {{!}} Sydney Dance Company". Australian Stage.
38. "ASVOFF 3 Winners". ASVOFF.
39. "Monster Children – Exhibition by Daniel Askill.".
40. "artforum.com/news/week=200850". ARTFORUM.
41. "Werkleitz Biennale 2006 Programme".
42. "onedotzero – We Have Decided Not To Die".