final (conceptual gatherings)

1) Focus on Landing-sites. How have sites been sited by the body-organism-environment throughout the different experiences. We could develop demonstrations of how to land on a site and how to engage with it thoroughly (making multiple sites apparent).

2) The logic of relations. For James as well as for Massumi, relations are the middle from which its terms emerge. A relation is an interval that offers the potential for novelty to emerge. How do we develop practices that deal with relations as an emergence from the middle instead of just connecting two terms. Find practices that follow this new notion of relation that lies at the centre of James’ concept of pure experience.

more actions // christoph

1) Blindfolded walking and the sonic impressions that occur. Apart from the actual impact of sonic experiences through the deprivation of sight, this action based on a couple-relation would also stimulate notions of (dis)comfort and (mis-)trust.

2) Tuning into the resonances of a space. The material ground of a structure (various landing-sites) offers the potential to activate different resonances of the space in various ways. Following resonances of objects that evoke movement, creating sonic resonances by activating the matter sonically or following resonances of sound through deep listening.

3) Acoustic deprivation. People try to arrange themselves with a space that is deaf r rather muted. How does the embodied experience of a space change and how does it effect our relations to the space.

transitions christoph

1) Becoming sensationally aware of moving between zones. This could be achieved through the advice not to talk, sharpen the senses etc. From a walking practice tailored to sound I know that a quietness in walking with particular attention to sound can be an incredible “tuning-in” into the sonic layer of the environment.

2) Distraction and disorientation. I think these two practices could be very useful but require a very precise and active performative involvement on our behalf. We could for example give a set of rules, e.g. not to talk or announce a way to go somewhere and disrupt this announced plan. This could be loud talking or taking very quirky routes to get to the place.

3) Quirky routes with focus. This transitory practice would in a certain way generate already something I could imagine for a general action. A particular format of movement or a particular focus that people have to follow while we are in transition.

4) Blindfolded guidance. This would be also an action I am going to propose but would also work as transition. We group up in pairs (and I really also like Bianca’s proposition to work in pairs) and one is leading and the other one is being lead and is blindfolded.

Warm-up activiies

1) Sea-Breathe: 3-5 Minutes of Breathing according to the Yoga practice. The effect is a vocal one that creates an internal resonance which will later relate to one particular action tailored to the notion of resonance.

2) Walking approaching homogeneous stopping and walking. The practice builds on a general arbitrary but continuous walking in the space for a couple of minutes. After a certain period a stoppage will be initiated until everyone stops. The same simultaneous action accounts for the resuming of walking. Ideally after a certain time of intimate practice, the shifts between walking, stopping and walking again should become homogeneous and organic.

3) ‘Friend and Foe’ walking practice. Each participant chooses secretly a friend and a foe. The practice consists of trying to approach the friend physically as much as a possible and at the same time trying to keep the maximum distance from the foe. This creates very dynamic patterns of movement.

Presence/Part 1

Once we know what the actions will be, it will be easier to determine what is needed in part 1.  

Here we can propose focusing and social actions--

such as getting in touch with the senses/body

working together in pairs

etc..

I have a lot of ways to lead a group through, I think we should focus on what our overall structure will be and on the actions and then come back to decide on part 1--I think we can do this on Wed--if we know before hand our agreed structure overall and actions proposed.

We could also have the same preparation (warm up) each day--something really to get the body moving, etc.

I also still like the idea of us three bringing our sketched map of Zagreb to our first meeting and then have the participants--on the first day--draw theirs.

Sharing/ Part 3

As I proposed in my email, I would really like to focus the third part on coming together and each group contributes to something we make together. I am in favor of a re-map of Zagreb.  To work with materials (paper, sketching utensils, transparencies, etc) and to re-name, re-orient, etc the map of Zagreb--

I like the translation process from bodies moving in the city to translating what we found through another, shared, medium.  This can be playful and also leave a residue, document...

In this way, we can work on a layering of palmipsest of ideas, places in the city, etc--it is also a document that can be shared beyond the group--a visual document (one more connected to the work than a video).  Again, we could have three maps from each day or a variation maps.

I also feel that this is where we can bring in discussion and the readings*

We may, need a place indoors to work--and I feel the studio will not be that far to return to and work.

I prefer this over a kind of show and tell format.

Actions/Part 2: Sara

Proposed Actions:

Day 1: main square of Zagreb Trg bana Jalacica

scales/bodies/heights

working with the participants in solo and small group form (depending on number) to relate to the varying forms and systems present in the square: larger-than-life equestrian statue, surrounding houses, a skyscraper, and people walking accross the square.

I am interested in working with the body/movements as a means of measuring the space as well as feeling out what scale is. In order to do that we might count with our feet, hands, whole body along walls, surfaces, buildings (I also like the idea of touching architecture).  Also to work with being very small and very large through image and movement.  Perhaps taking on different body shapes in relation to the existing structures and placing ourselves in various positions that change the perception of the scale of things and our own bodies.  Also, to measure across the square, by lining up as a group and creating a moving spectacle across the square  (if enough people).

Day 2: short street called Krvavi most (Bloody bridge)

bridges/borders/fences

Here I am interested to work with flow, movement through a space, traveling through the space--from one side to another.  We would come up with various ways of walking through the space (alone and in partners) that alter the experience of the space--for example, walking sideways, backwards, in slow motion, etc.

Day 3: old botanical garden/serves as a division from the railroad tracks

silences/waits/(in)visibility

I am most excited about this day....

I would like to work with being invisible and also leaving a trace.  I like the idea of participants following people through the space and also collecting movement vignettes or tableaus of people waiting. I also like the idea of leaving a mark with chalk, tracing someone's pathway through a space, as well as re-performing the tableaus in different locations.

--

These are all still quite open and will be further detailed on site.  I may also choose, once I arrive, to focus on one particular system (related to walking) at each site and see how that system changes with each site and what that says about a site.