Blicks

Blicks are a small, modular optical device used in visual arts and design. Each Blick consists of several reflective panels mounted on a lightweight frame, forming a portable mirror array that can be adjusted to show multiple angles of a subject. The term Blick derives from the German Blick, meaning glance or look, signaling its function as a quick, glance-based analysis tool.

Construction and variants: Panels are typically made of acrylic or coated glass, with hinges allowing three- or four-way configurations. The unit is lightweight and collapsible for travel. Basic Blicks operate without electronics, while newer models may include small sensors to record lighting conditions or to interface with digital workflows.

History: The Blick concept emerged in late 1970s European art studios as a response to the need for rapid multi-angle observation. By the 1980s it spread to painting, sculpture, and photography circles, with commercially produced kits becoming common in art schools during the 1990s. The device was especially valued for studying symmetry, perspective, and lighting.

Modern use: In education, Blicks are used to teach observation, composition, and lighting. In contemporary art and installation practice, Blicks appear in works that examine perception and the politics of visibility. Digital variants allow researchers and designers to simulate Blick configurations in software or to capture data from real-world setups.

See also: mirrors, perspective, pre-visualization, anamorphosis.