skärmverk

Skärmverk, literally “screen work,” is a term used in Swedish art, design, and craft contexts to describe artworks and objects in which a screen or screen-like structure is the central formal element. The practice encompasses a range of portable and architectural forms, including folding screens, room dividers, wall-mounted panels, and decorative screens intended for interiors or stage settings. Materials commonly used include wood, lacquer, metal, textiles, and mixtures of these, with technique extending from carpentry and carving to inlay, painting, textile appliqué, and metalwork. The defining feature is that the screen itself—its construction, surface, and arrangement of panels—constitutes the primary artistic statement.

Historically, screens have appeared in many cultures as tools for privacy, light control, and spatial organization, and skärmverk in Sweden has grown out of these broader traditions. In Swedish museums, galleries, and design environments, the term is often applied to pieces that emphasize craftsmanship and the interplay of solid and void, color and pattern, rather than to standalone furniture or purely two-dimensional works. The genre is thus connected to interior decoration, architectural practice, and collectible craft.

In contemporary practice, skärmverk spans traditional handicrafts and modern experimentation. Contemporary artists and designers may reimagine folding screens as light-based installations, interactive environments, or hybrid objects that combine analog materials with digital media. The field remains a site for exploring space, perception, and privacy, while continuing to draw on historical techniques and regional design sensibilities.