ruimtevaarders is the artistic collaboration between scenographers Karolien De Schepper and Christophe Engels. She is an architect, he is trained as a 3D/Multimedia Design visual artist. Since their first joint assignment for HetTheaterfestival in 2008, they have designed over 50 scenographies for theater and exhibition projects both domestically and internationally.
A significant part of their work includes set designs for theaters such as NTGent, Das Fraulein Kompanie, KVS, BOZAR, DE SINGEL, hetpaleis, Théâtre National Wallonie-Bruxelles, Théâtre de Liège, Münchner Kammerspiele, Schauspielhaus Zürich, Schaubühne am Lehniner Platz Berlin, Toneelgroep Amsterdam, Frascati, Theaterproductiehuis Zeelandia, Het Nieuwstedelijk, Kopergietery, Muziek Lod, De Warande, and Malpertuis. These productions, in collaboration with directors and creators such as Milo Rau, Yana Ross, Anne-Cécile Vandalem, Sara Vertongen, Simon De Vos, Inge Goris, Piet Arfeuille, Julie Vandenberghe, Thomas Janssens, Nathalie Teirlinck, and SKAGEN, have been featured at major European festivals such as Festival d’Avignon, kunstenfestivaldesarts, Manchester International Festival, Wiener Festwochen, Find Festival Berlin, Teaterformen Festival Hannover, Mons festival, and others.
Another aspect of their portfolio involves designing installations, events, and exhibitions, invited by cultural players like Bruegel Bokrijk, Luister MAS, Stad in Oorlog MAS, Opening MAS, Klara Festival, Kunstenpunt, Stormopkomst Warande, XS – Festival Théatre national, Passaporta, deSingel Art City & De Nachten, Antwerpen Open, Vooruit, Cultuurprijzen 2008, Theaterfestival 2008.
For ruimtevaarders, scenography is about creating, constructing, and sharing stories, ideas, and desires through spatial interventions and designs. ruimtevaarders’ work is characterized by an impeccable imagination through which the coded interplay of spatiality, materiality, and fantasy becomes an indispensable carrier, co-player, and accomplice in the on-stage fiction.
In 2024 ruimtevaarders is working on 3 new projects with premieres in April, October, and next spring.