The Art Experiment is a free art project. The realization of the project is supported by a grant from the Ministry of Culture and Science of North Rhine-Westphalia.

The experiment (from Latin experimentum, a trial, test, proof, experiment, noun of action from experiri, to try, test, from ex, out of and peritus, experienced, tested) is a playful exploration of individual (living) environments and spaces. The underlying idea of the Art Experiment: In the course of the project participants reflect on their individual experiences and perceptions in private, public and other spaces, share them and initiate an exchange and dialogue with others.

Interested volunteers regardless of age, gender and origin are invited to take part in this art project.

The results of the exploration are to be published on the project website the-art-experiment.de and thus become visible to both participants and visitors to the website and visualized results of reflections and experiences made by the participants become perceptible, tangible and traceable to others. A real life exhibition is also planned at a later date.

Main actors of the experiment are voluntary players and a game master. Over a period of about eight weeks and about once a week, the game master sends 1-2 messages to the players. Every message is sent without prior notice and includes a specific task, which may be a question or a call to action. The instructions are easy to manage and encourage the player to respond in a spontaneous, playful, creative way.

Don’t worry, every task is easy to respond to and only takes one to five minutes to complete. It is important however that a given task is solved spontaneously and promptly.

A response to a message may consist of one word, a two-line comment, a drawing or a photo with a corresponding title. The communication between game master and participant via mobile phone is ideal and sending messages via SMS, Signal or WhatsApp is the easiest and fastest way. But of course, response messages can also be sent via email. Every participant is invited to help shape the art project by documenting his / her responses/results using photo, film, text, etc. and sharing them with others.

You are a part of the experiment. By participating in the project you actively help shape the art experiment and – by responding to an unannounced message – you will gain new experiences in the spatial situation you are in.

You will see, your spontaneous response to a question or task will even make familiar experiences appear in a new light and make them tangible in a new way. You receive a message without prior notice wherever you are, so that a change of perception of the spacial situation in that moment can take place in a private or in a public space.

Take an active part in the art experiment by documenting your results using photos, films, text, etc. By sending a result to the game master, you agree to its publication. As you wish your result will then be published anonymously (initials / nickname) or with your real name on the project website.