Karel Tuytschaever

Karel Tuytschaever (Belgium) works as an actor, teaching artist, and researcher in the arts, known for creating his own hybrid work. His artistic practice revolves around the central theme of physical presence, integrating it into his multifaceted roles. Karel graduated with a master's degree in acting from the Royal Conservatoire Antwerp in 2007, where he was part of one of the last classes taught by Dora van der Groen. Since then, he has built a career as a freelance performer in theatre, film, and television. His vocal talents also extend to voice-over work for TV, radio, and museums. Since 2008, Karel has been a lecturer in the Bachelor programs for Drama and Contemporary Dance at the Royal Conservatoire Antwerp - AP University College. He actively contributes as a member of the dance education committee and the student mentor team. His expertise is frequently sought after for coaching, workshops, and masterclasses in the visual and performing arts sectors. Karel is also a doctoral researcher in the arts at Antwerp University, Royal Academy of Fine Arts Antwerp, and Royal Conservatoire Antwerp. His doctoral project, "When the Artist Swallows His Image" (2022-2026), delves into the nuanced domain of embodied knowledge and the interplay between a creator's physicality and their artistic presentations of somebody's corporeality. His research efforts are further enriched by his memberships in the CORPoREAL research group at the Royal Conservatoire Antwerp, the Art and Ecology research group at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts Antwerp, and his affiliations with ARIA (Antwerp Research Institute for the Arts) and ViDi (Visual and Digital Cultures Research Center) at Antwerp University. Additionally, Karel serves on the research council of the Antwerp Schools of Arts. In 2015, Karel founded Platform Barry, a space dedicated to developing, producing, and sharing his unique hybrid works. Through this platform, he continually reexamines and redefines embodiment in the arts, striving to create more authentic and honest physical expressions in his works.