kunstklep

Kunstklep is a term that appears in Dutch-language discussions of art and design to describe a device, element, or feature within a work that functions as a lid, flap, or panel designed to be opened or moved. The word is a compound of kunst (art) and klep (lid, flap), and is typically used descriptively rather than as a formal category.

In practice, a kunstklep may be integrated into sculptures, installations, artist books, or product-design objects. The act of opening a kunstklep changes the viewer’s perception by revealing content, mechanisms, or contexts hidden from the initial surface. This can create a performative moment, induce a shift in meaning, or critique surface-level appearance.

The concept is not widely standardized and appears across different practitioners and contexts. It is often discussed in relation to interactivity, materiality, and transparency in art, as well as to design strategies that engage touch and curiosity. Because the term is not formally adopted in major art-historical glossaries, examples tend to be contextual and multidisciplinary, spanning contemporary sculpture, installation art, and experimental publishing.

See also: interactive art, reveal mechanisms, concealment and revelation.