Karin Bienek is a magic lantern performer, serpentine dancer and experimental media-archaeologist. She received her diploma in pedagogy from Goethe University Frankfurt in 1983. Her thesis examined reception and learning processes in theatre. In the early 1980s she was a member of the independent theatre company Schlicksupp teatertrupp. From 1986 to 2005 she organised workshops, magic lantern shows and performance tours with international artists as well as two magic lantern festivals for the Deutsches Filmmuseum Frankfurt and the Institut für historische Projektionskunst. Currently she is a board member of laProf, the state association for professional independent performing arts in Hessen, Germany.

Karin (https://linktr.ee/KarinBienek_illuminago) is a founding member of illuminago (https://linktr.ee/illuminago) and its administrator and archivist:

The illuminago collectionof historical artefacts (projectors, slides, etc.) supports research on the art of projection and produces reproductions and digital presentations of lantern slides. Furthermore, the collection runs hands-on workshops for the general public, students and scholars.

The illuminago ensemble (https://vimeo.com/219266898) has presented magic lantern performances in many European countries and in the US and Canada since 1986. The experimental re-enactments and creative re-uses of magic lanterns and slides involve musicians, actors and other performers. Since 2018 Karin has been producing 'lantern shows' with artists performing in sign language. She also appears as a guest artist in performances by cooperation partners.

Karin produced magic lantern performances, workshops and media-archaeological experiments within the Screen1900 context. In 2015 she drafted a comprehensive concept for media-archaeological experiments on the history of the art of projection and the screen. Based on this concept, she is conducting media archaeological experiments. The research project DEMA - Doing Experimental Media Archaeology at the University of Luxembourg and the research project PerConfi - Performative Configurations of Projection Art for the Popular Transmission of Knowledge at the University of Marburg were previous cooperation partners (2018-2022).

Media Archaeological Experiments with ‘Improved Phantasmagoria Lanterns’ (1820-1880)
Produced with Ludwig Vogl-Bienek, Frankfurt / Luxembourg 2021. https://vimeo.com/489306344/4480f95f68  
https://dema.uni.lu/performing-media-archaeological-experiments-report

Magic Lantern Show in 5 Chapters: Science, Travel, Story, Phantasmagoria, and Art
Digital presentation for the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures. Produced with Ludwig Vogl-Bienek in collaboration with Jessica Niebel. Part of the exhibition The Path to Cinema: Highlights from the Richard Balzer Collection, Los Angeles 2021.

Schneemann Dicki Hinkebein
Poems and the fairy tale “Frau Holle”. A show for children in two languages: sign language and speech. With Mareike Moskaliuk (GSL). Premiered at the international theaterfestival Winterwerft, Frankfurt, 2020.

Die Austreibung des armenischen Volkes in die Wüste
DVD, Recording of the 2016 performance, 2018.
https://absolutmedien.de/film/2011/Die+Austreibung+des+armenischen+Volkes+in+die+Wueste

Die Austreibung des armenischen Volkes in die Wüste
Re-enactment of a lantern lecture by Armin T. Wegner (1919). Produced by Filmmuseum Potsdam and Militärhistorisches Museum der Bundeswehr, Dresden. Premiered at Filmmuseum Potsdam, 2016.

In Treue Fest! – Stricken und Sterben im Ersten Weltkrieg
A play for two women, a single-lantern, lantern slides from the Great War, historical texts and songs. Co-production with Cornelia Niemann. Premiered at Deutsches Filmmuseum, Frankfurt, 2014.

A Christmas Carol – Ein Weihnachtslied von Charles Dickens
Production with new accompanying programme and music. Produced with Ludwig Vogl-Bienek, Judith Herrmann for the festival “made in Hessen – 100% Theater”, Theater Sapperlott, Lorsch; Landesmusikakademie Hessen, Schlitz; 2013.

Magiczene Kino – Pomiedzy Cudem A Nauka
Produced with Ludwig Vogl-Bienek, Judith Herrmann, in collaboration with Urzula Biel, Andrzej Gwóźdź and the Foundation for Polish-German Cooperation. Performed at Teatr Swietlny Amok, Gliwice, 2013.

History of the magic lantern and the art of projection
Digital presentation produced with Ludwig Vogl-Bienek, Mervyn Bienek, in collaboration with Andrea Haller, Günter Buchwald, for the permanent exhibition of Deutsches Filmmuseum, Frankfurt, 2011.

Lichtspiele im Schatten der Armut
Experimental performance on screen culture and the social question around 1900. Produced with Ludwig Vogl-Bienek, Judith Herrmann, in collaboration with Screen1900. Premiered at Munich Film Museum, 2010.

A 19th Century Multi Media Extravaganza & Magic Lantern Spectacular!
Participation with a Serpentine dance. Produced with Ludwig Vogl-Bienek, Philip Carli, Joss Marsh, David Francis. Performed at Buskirk-Chumley Theater, Bloomington, 2010.

Magische Lichtspiele von Eis und Schnee
Produced for 'wetterfest' with Ludwig Vogl-Bienek, Rozana Weidmann. Premiered at Internationales Wetterfilmfestival, Frankfurt, 2007.

The Better Land - Sehnsucht nach einer anderen Welt
Produced with Ludwig Vogl-Bienek, Mervyn Heard, Rozana Weidmann, Ute Klug, in collaboration with Screen1900. Performed at Cinémathèque Luxembourg, 2006.

Magische Lichtspiele - Salon der verlorenen Medien
Composite Show. Produced with Ludwig Vogl-Bienek, Rozana Weidmann, in collaboration with Screen1900. Premiered at Tuchfabrik Trier, 2005.

A Christmas Carol – Ein Weihnachtslied von Charles Dickens
New production with accompanying programme and music. Produced with Ludwig Vogl-Bienek, Rozana Weidmann. Premiered at Cinémathèque Luxembourg, 2004.

Espectáculos de Lanterna magica (with Serpentine Dance)
Produced with Ludwig Vogl-Bienek, Nicolas McNair, Natalia Juskiewicz. Performed at Cinemateca Portuguesa, Museo Do Cinema, Lisbon, 2003.

Verschwimmende Bilder / Dissolving Views (with Serpentine Dance)
Collaborative magic lantern and early film performance. Produced with Martin Loiperdinger, Ludwig Vogl-Bienek, Ulrich Rügner, in collaboration with KINtop and Deutsches Filminstitut (DIF). Performed at 43rd International Short Film Festival Oberhausen, 1997.

Laterna Magica – Illuminated Theatre / The Skladanowskys and Dissolving Images

(with Serpentine Dance)
Produced with Ludwig Vogl-Bienek, Ulrich Rügner. Performed at the Design Exchange (Exhibition Visions of Light) in collaboration with Goethe-Institut Toronto, 1997.

Die Briefe des fliegenden Holländers  - Nach Heinrich Heine und Richard Wagner

(with Serpentine Dance)
Produced with Ludwig Vogl-Bienek, Ulrich Rügner. Premiered at 3rd International Silent Film Festival, Württembergische Landesbühne, Esslingen, 1997.

Le lettere dell'Olandese volante (with Serpentine Dance)
Produced with Ludwig Vogl-Bienek, Ulrich Rügner for Goethe-Institut Rome. Performed at Teatro dell' Opera di Roma, 1997.

Lichtspiele mit der Wirklichkeit
Collaborative magic lantern and early film performance. Produced with Ludwig Vogl-Bienek, Martin Loiperdinger, Ulrich Rügner, in collaboration with KINtop, Deutsches Filminstitut (DIF) and Institut für historische Projektionskunst. Premiered at Medienzentrum Kino 46, Bremen, 1996.

Die Skladanowskys und die Nebelbilder
Produced with Ludwig Vogl-Bienek, Martin Loiperdinger, Ulrich Rügner. Performed for the Centenary of Cinema-Gala at Delphi theatre, Berlin, 1995.

Laterna magica - Leuchtende Bilder – Tanzendes Licht (with Serpentine Dance)
Produced with Ludwig Vogl-Bienek, Ulrich Rügner, in collaboration with Institut für historische Projektionskunst. Premiered at 2nd Festival of the Historical Art of Projection, Deutsches Filmmuseum, Frankfurt, 1994.

Die Laterna Magica - Zwischen Wunder und Wissenschaft
Produced with Ludwig Vogl-Bienek, Judith Herrmann. Premiered at 1st Festival of the Historical Art of Projection, Deutsches Filmmuseum, Frankfurt, 1993.

Wagner’s Ring: A Magic Lantern Spectacular
German-English version of 'Die Nibelungen – aus dem Bayreuther Festspiel', since 1994 with Serpentine Dance as finale. Produced with Ludwig Vogl, Judith Herrmann, Cornelia Niemann, in collaboration with Mervyn Heard, Franziska Bienek. Performed at Toverlantaarnfestival, Nederlands Filmmuseum, Amsterdam, 1989; Goethe-Institut London, 1994; Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art, Edinburgh, 1994; Musée des Beaux-Arts, Montréal, 1995; Barbican Centre, London, 2002; Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, Linbury Studio Theatre, London, 2007.

A Christmas Carol – Ein Weihnachtslied von Charles Dickens
Produced with Ludwig Vogl. Premiered at Deutsches Filmmuseum, Frankfurt, 1988.

Die Nibelungen – aus dem Bayreuther Festspiel
Historical informed re-enactment of the first adaptation of Wagner's Ring Cycle for popular media in 1888. Produced with Ludwig Vogl, Judith Herrmann, Cornelia Niemann. Premiered at Deutsches Filmmuseum, Frankfurt, 1987.