Photo by Kristy Leibowitz Artist and dancer Viva Ruiz, Antony Hegarty of Antony and the Johnsons and Björk at the VIP premiere of her latest music video Wanderlust

• Name: Björk’s Wanderlust video premiere in New York
• Date: Wednesday March 12, 2008
• Location: Deitch Project’s new Deitch Studios in Long Island City
• Who was there: Ratatat, French Kicks, Grizzly Bear, Battles, Antony of Antony and the Johnsons, Jeffrey Deitch (of course).
• What was served:: Reyka Vodka from Iceland (of course)

Björk was there. When I tell people where I went last night, that’s the first thing they ask me: “Was Björk there?” The next question is, “What was she wearing?” Nobody asks about the buffalo.

After wandering through the industrial wasteland leading to Deitch Project’s hidden waterfront gallery in Long Island City, I turned a corner to find myself surrounded by the cast, crew, friends, family, props, and production sketches of the new video for Wanderlust directed by Encyclopedia Pictura. Björk glided through the crowd, past her guests, past the enormous foam and felt waterbuffalo, past the mannequins, past the viewmasters filled with stereoscopic production stills. This wasn’t just another screening or art opening, the venue was also the shoot location, and the vibe in the room was “wrap party.”

Photo by Kristy Leibowitz The scene Wednesday night at the VIP premiere of Björk’s Wanderlust music video at Deitch Studios in Long Island City

We all came to see a sneak preview of the 3D version of Wanderlust, but the post production team was busily rendering effects files when we arrived, and still rendering when we left. The crowd only empathized. Groups of twenty filtered into an intimate screening room to watch the 2D version and stepped back into the crowd, beaming. I spoke with the choreographer about how he had to jump on stage dressed in chroma-key green to prop up the dancers during some of the more complicated moves…

The 3D version plays tonight only, same time, same place.

Photo by Kristy Leibowitz The makeshift screening room

Photo by Jason Wishnow Artist sketch from production art of Encyclopedia Pictura’s Björk video

Photo by Kristy Leibowitz Waterbuffalo prop from the video enjoys party-goer