Henrik Vibskov

Observation of Humans

Danish fashion designer and artist Henrik Vibskov was one of three artists invited to take part in the R&D programme for fully fashioned knitting. All three artists were given 40 days to work with the product developers in the TextielLab to push the boundaries of knitting. During that process, they were asked to create a voluminous ‘body-related’ artwork for the exhibition ‘SHAPE – body, fashion, identity’, which can be seen in the TextielMuseum until 30 March 2025. Vibskov was paired with product developer Mathilde Vandenbussche to experiment on the circular knitting machine.

A technically challenging combination of recycled polyester monofilament, elastane, lurex and EcoVero viscose was used to develop a layered and flexible knit that plays with transparency and flexibility. As sustainability was an important component of the programme, a recycled monofilament made specially for the project from PET bottles and EcoVero viscose was selected. Vandenbussche used this to knit 25 tubes in a yellow and blue checkerboard pattern. Vibskov assembled the tubes into a fascinating group of living creatures with human characteristics. He gave them not only curves and limbs but also imperfections. The final installation, Observation of Humans, symbolises what it means to be human: we are different but equal.

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Photos by Josefina Eikenaar and Patty van den Elshout commissioned by TextielMuseum