HENRIK VIBSKOV’S ‘THE STICKY BRICK FINGERS’

Welcome to the weird and wonderful world of The Sticky Brick Fingers, Henrik Vibskov’s Spring Summer 2015 collection. Stirred up by visions of rotating cement mixers, construction sites, bricks, swimming pools and water sports, Vibskov’s latest macrocosm is a whirlpool of outlandish invention.
In collaboration with the Norwegian National Opera and Ballet and choreographer Alexander Ekman, and as an extension of their recent production of Swan Lake at Oslo Opera House, the Paper Island in Copenhagen has been transformed into a wet and wild fantasy stage. A 150 m2 shallow pool has been constructed and filled with 4000 litres of water, inside which 10 dancers from the Norwegian National Opera and Ballet elegantly splish and splash their way through a routine devised by renowned Swedish choreographer Alexander Ekman. An internationally acclaimed name in the world of dance, Ekman is recognised and sought-after for his unique ability to pair wit and playfulness. The brand new music with references to Tchaikovsky’s original Swan Lake score, is written by New York based Swedish composer Mikael Karlsson, known for his collaboration with Swedish pop artist Lykke Li as well as Nederlands Dance Theater and the Royal Swedish Ballet.
Models adorned with monk-like headpieces and specially made tight fitting neoprene water shoes tread the catwalk, and show a collection that is balanced perfectly between eccentric innovation and wearability. Fonts are blown up on knits, artworks rotate, and brick motifs become the building blocks of sweat
styles. Double-faced jersey is cut up and re-constructed, and 3d structures are created out of intricately assembled patterns. Transparency is featured in striped net styles, and reflections of water and the body shapes of divers are constant themes in the collection. Silhouettes are round and curved, and divided circles come together to create relaxed summer suits. Upper bodies are long and stretched, shorts are classically Vibskov and low-crotched, and trousers are short. Strong orange, white and mint stand out amongst more subtle dark blues and curry shades.
For the second season in a row, Vibskov has been working in co-operation with a non-profit organisation in India to produce khadi cotton, which is manufactured by hand by self-employed men and women in rural areas using traditional techniques. The cotton is processed without the use of electricity, and dyed using vegetable dyes, before being printed using hand-carved wood blocks. For the first time Vibskov is producing styles using an innovative mud and indigo printing technique. The show is produced in collaboration with the Danish Arts Foundation and Norwegian National Opera and Ballet.