Is a space for artistic research, experimentation and imagination. Set up by Bartels in an attempt to articulate and enclose the fringes in the scope of her artistic practice. To explore the absurd, bizarre, boring and (un)usual fascinations at a certain point in time. To dive into the potential of fragmentary bits an pieces, creating analogies between
concepts, questions and ideas. Blurring fiction and reality, where nothing is what it seems and vice versa.
Serious play or playful seriousness.
Schmilblique derived from Schmilblick
The Schmilblick is an imaginary object created by the French humorist Pierre Dac during the 1950s. It is absolutely useless, and can therefore be used for anything, being rigorously entire. Pierre Dac himself credits the brothers Jules and Raphaël Fauderche with its invention.
The word quickly became very popular in French language and was sometimes used as a synonym for thing or stuff, or something designating a strange or unknown object. Nowadays, this word is frequently used to refer to some limited help provided by someone to solve a difficult problem. The idiom is actually 'Faire avancer le schmilblick' (To make the schmilblick move/get ahead, literally). Also, advancing a subject.
Ouvroir | Faire avancer le schmilblick
is a space for artistic research, experimentation and imagination. To explore the absurd, bizarre, boring, the (un)usual. To dive into the potential of fragmentary bits an pieces, creating analogies between concepts, questions and ideas. Blurring fiction and reality, where nothing is what it seems and vice versa. Serious play or playful seriousness.
Set up by Karin Bartels in an attempt to articulate and enclose the fringes in the scope of her artistic practice.
Website in Process
OUVROIR |
In this artistic and art-educational research project,
Karin collaborated with young kids to explore imaginative ways of creating and experiencing art and design.
Using overhead projectors, fabrics, colored foils, scissors, markers,mirrors, a handmade- tent and light box, Karin sought to create a space of wonder, discovery, play, and imagination.
Through play sessions, she experimented alongside the kids, learning directly from their interactions. By observing their focus and responses to the projectors and provided materials, Karin refined the project to make it more accessible to young kids. These insights shaped a growing collection of (handmade), open-ended materials that encouraged free, interactive loose parts play. Her aim, to give kids the freedom to play openly and transform a space through light shape and image, engaging with infinite possibilities in an accessible and playful way.
Over time, the project evolved into a kind of installation—a theatrical play space designed for independent, child-led learning. The play environment is flexible in scale, energy, and context. It could accommodate solitary or group play, adapt to small or large spatial settings, and function on the floor or even in bed. Providing a certain amount of accessibility and inclusivity for participation.
The project was born out of Karin’s experience of living with chronic illness, and from the unique “leisure time” created by her condition. Inspired by Crip theory and Alison Kafer’s notion of “Crip time” (Feminist, Queer, Crip), Karin set out to shape a practice that acknowledged and responded to her own needs. The research process was documented on a private blog, where theoretical reflection with artistic practice intertwined (some visual fragments below).
From her perspective of chronic illness—and the recurring retreats into infinite inner worlds offered by literature—Karin discovered a parallel with the temporary nature and the infinite possibilities of spatial projections within the theatrical play space that came out of this project.
Ouvroir meaning Workshop or Atelier.
Schmilblique derived from Schmilblick
The Schmilblick is an imaginary object created by the French humorist Pierre Dac during the 1950s. It is absolutely useless, and can therefore be used for anything, being rigorously entire. Pierre Dac himself credits the brothers Jules and Raphaël Fauderche with its invention.
The word quickly became very popular in French language and was sometimes used as a synonym for thing or stuff, or something designating a strange or unknown object. Nowadays, this word is frequently used to refer to some limited help provided by someone to solve a difficult problem. The idiom is actually 'Faire avancer le schmilblick' (To make the schmilblick move/get ahead, literally). Also, advancing a subject.
Nominee Henriette Hustinx prize
Ouvroir | Faire Avancer Le Schmilblique, artistic research • education project • installation, The Beginning exhibition, Maastricht Institute of Arts, Maastricht (NL)
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