s e j n b o h e m i ae r o s a
B o h
e m i a e R o s a 3 BOHEMIAN KARST / BEROUNKA RIVER VALLEY
3 - 16 August 1999
International Interdisciplinary Open-Air
Workshop for dancers and artists exploring the relation among body, art and
landscape by Milos Sejn, Frank van de Ven and guest teacher Vaclav Cilek,
Bohemiae Rosa Project, Academy of Fine Arts in Prague,
Hermit Foundation and the Center for Metamedia in Plasy, Czech Republic
DAYBOOK OF PARTICIPANTS
Thursday August 3rd
It's the first day of the workshop! I'm remembrance of the meal and the
campfire made with huge trees by Václav of the night before we did our first
exercises. After a welcome word by Frank we all had to sit on a large table
had to move our body from standing position, to laying position (stretched)
on the ground with our face in the grass, to standing position again and
finally walk into the garden. This should happen a time span of half an
hour. This meant that we should break down the interval and according to that
move at a certain body speed. After this we tried to do the some exercise
but then ten times quicker. So instead of half an hour, we had 3 minutes to
move. It seemed to me that it was very difficult to keep the right speed;
also the sense of time seems to fade away during such an intensive work.
We started to work with couples. One person was standing without moving
physically and thinks about being up. The other person had to wait, then lift
the body at the air and repeat this 3 times. The person standing had to change
his or her perspective by thinking down and we did the same and changed
position.
We discussed if we felt any differences in the lifting and the being-lifted.
Now we put it to the test.. again we had to lift a person 3 times, but he or
she could change the idea. We had to guess / feel the combination. We all
had very different experiences. Milos spoke about "the double image" which
made if harder to "be up" (since the sky is right above you already, "unlike
in a studio where you have to invent the sky first.)
Then we packed our tents, had a meal, a short meeting and we left Radotin.
The journey with the train went quite fast, the walking was tougher with a
warm sun, and our backpacks. It took us 3 1/2 hours to find the good spot
for our first camp. We only had to get the other stuff from the car, which was waiting, and then
we would be complete.
Two small exercises followed, where we first observed a small part of the
forest and secondly we worked with couples where we observe and examine each
other’s body like we did with the small part.
Wednesday, August 4th
We woke up after surprisingly chilly night, into full sun flooded morning.
Light breakfast and at 9.00 we headed towards first working day. Already
during our journey, to the Kobyla quarry we prepared our muscles to the
movements. Especially Ben, our "guard" dog took t really seriously and
arranged his own meal by hunting a chicken from the nearest house, so that we did not dare to go
there and as for the drinking water supply.
Coming down the hill along the edge of the quarry we met Václav Cílek and his
colleague geologist Frank Herald, who was surprisingly calm, seeing our dog,
with fresh blood around his mouth. Morning part was dealing with slow
motion exploration, 1 mm per second, which was followed by 1 cm per second.
We did t in couples, so that we get responses immediately. I enjoyed very
much the work with blinded eyes: We blinded our eyes with scarves and Frank
said, I will lead you to certain spot, and there you will try to fall
asleep, I wake you up. The blind journey barefoot was amazing, seemed to me t
will last hours and then the surprise climbing up the rock to the Cave, with
dusty floor. I did not sleep also because of some visitors to the Cave, who
thought there is a dead body or "figurine".
Back to the camping place for lunch - Sonja cooked bears with sausages.
After lunch break, some of us went for drinking water supply. Afternoon in the quarry with
leading by Milos. During our journey we were asked to watch
colours and structures. Work 1: slow motion with close observation of
objects; long time to concentrate on movement, later I was able to observe;
very small white blossoms of tiny flower, later yarrow, bark of tree and
another flower "cornflower" from under) 1 hour work). Later work with close
observations of surfaces I went on my knees and shoulders, and it was like a
documentary film on grass inhabitants, most impressing was the movement
through the grass forest in insect perspective.
Work 2: watching closely + touching blindly. I found very strange dry
mushrooms, which I watched long time, and when touching it. I discovered
they are very firm, dry, like dry clay. Nobody knows what kind of mushrooms
it was.
Looking through the watchmaker's lens gives another dimension to the mossy
with feathers of some giant bird.
Václav C. had nice speech concerning his dreams, layers, millions of years,
floating Pangea etc. in the Kobyla quarry. Martin
Thursday, August 5th
. start later (9 am) - quiet morning - shopping by Sonja, Václav.
. on the path from the base camp to the fields direction quarry:
walking backwards (- 1 min. interval between people)
"being quicker but still not thinking more/
breaking habits of what I experience partially as a state of relaxation,
but might only be the layers of control over my physical situation /
Never better, each day different."
- in the evening by the fire I discuss this a bit with Rolf.
Question: Since you've been doing BW - work & related work now over some
time, do you experience a physical learning process similar to say:
bicycle - riding; where the body + mind start to "function" better under
similar circumstances (for example backwards walking)
maybe if some priorities of "sense of time, balance, orientation, reaction.
are now more fulfilled automatically, that opens up more space around it
for added internal or external sensations, thoughts + images from less
rationally conscious quarters of the brains.
Quote Frank-seeing Rolf appear backwards out of the words: "Very alone man
walking backwards."
Rest of us notice the "short tripping" afterwards in vision and balance - of
rushing falling forwards.
. Entrance through quarry-tunnel and to the middle of the field inside;
blind
Estimate beforehand how many steps it will be through the tunnel, count them
and compare.
In order of departure: guess actual
Martin 100 105
Angela 250 177
Milos 150 meters took 600 (in all,
counting the disorientation
(to field) period
in the bushes)
Martina 120 119
Frank 110 119
Osamu forgot (also here for the first time
today)
Rolf 100 100
Sjoerd 100 130
"Since I arrive each, I can watch some. I wonder then, why, how much/many
things does a person meet, or do the things meet that person - does for
example disorientation lead to large experiences since many encounters
happen - and is one sensationally attached. Do these encounters help further
orientation or hinder it. -
How much is the "finding path precisely" a priority?
"Do you make sure, you are sure -
or do you make sure you're not so sure on
orientation + marking?
How much does the lower brain take over?
Therefore I ask everybody for their (subjective) level of concentration
during the blindfold.
Martin 45
Angela 30
Milos -
Martina 90
Frank 60
Osamu 90
Rolf 60 inside tunnel 100 outside
Sjoerd 50 inside tunnel 80 outside
. Slowing down walking, speeding up walking
down to 1 mm p/sec. from quite fast
1.
25 min: Division in time-cues 0 - 5 min}
5 - 10 min} slowing
down
10 - 15 min > 1 mm/p.sec.
continuously
15 - 20 min }
20 / 25 min } speeding up
Importance on control of very gradual speed design as a graphic of speed in
time would be even.
Plus consciousness of different "gears"
"Gears or not gears, that is the question"
2.
6.5 min : Division 0 - 1 min }
1 - 2 min }
2 - 3 min } slowing
down
3 - 3.5 > complete
stop
3.5- 4.5 }
4.5- 5.5 }
5.5- 6.5 } speeding
up
3.
3.5 min : Division 1.5 min slowing down
0.5 min > stop
1.5 min speeding up
Short discussion: Because of different time-sensation in slow-speed vr. fast
speed, there's a "trap" on common from very slow to quicker, where everyone
(almost) takes too long.
> Therefore think quicker there
Quote Martin " I didn't have enough time to speed up this time"
4.
120 sec.: Division 3 x 10 sec slowing down
10 sec > stop
3 x 10 sec speeding up
5.
19 sec. Division 3 x 3 sec slowing down
1 sec > stop
3 x 3 sec speeding up
. Sort of Bisoku: From initial sitting position:
freeze for 3 min; move: 1 mm/sec - 3 min
move: 1 cm/sec 3 min }
10 cm/sec 3 min } also lower surfaces of body,
which are in touch w/ground
. In partners: 1 cm/sec & 10 cm/sec
- head is not the centralising factor in the body
- head is like a super computer; controlling all different body parts.
Then Frank can't do the next thing anymore.
Walk back to base camp.
Food is ready immediately, since a bit of rain is already there. At - 2.15
pm it starts raining for the first time in at last 9 days. So we set and
wait.
Václav predicted the rain to stop within 1 hour, and so t did. I feel good
after the rain and a nap and collecting wood for the fireplace.
. Václav takes us to the verge of the still mine, on top of it. Abyss like
nothing in the air in front of us. Ben's a bit scared, so am I. Can't
predict my anxiety or physical sensations.
We sit on 3 different layers next to the rock front - if someone would step
somewhat wrongly - "keep the image of your death cheerfully before you at all
times."
Big attachment to survival arises in me. And a temptation to fly.
Václav instructs: 5-10 min. sitting with: image of safe massive rock
behind you back and an empty huge airy-space before you-nothing-like.
Reminds me of a friend of mine. She's so overwhelmed by that sense and "by
willed-accident" thoughts, jest jumping downs a high place - being sucked. Now
this one's not just high-but void, hugely surrounded little landscape down
there.
. 5-10 min. sitting with the image of 1st. opposite:
The rock wall cold and like a white empty mass;
the landscape and the air (the vacuum) filled
with collective voices - all collective elements,
weddings, sufferings,
. 5-10 min. sitting w/image of the rock face being
filed with thousands of birds flying, which
cannot pass through its wall, otherwise they die
immediately. Also they dive down deep into the bottom of the rock to eat
fire worms.
(Based on a, "Vaclavian vision")
We keep on walking. For same reason tears ran down my face all along. Now they
stopped. . Milos suggests we collect "pigments" and hands out small plastic
bags for this purpose. I "trip" a bit, having to given and smile all the
time, up to laughing out - I find it fascinating and funny not to have
the slightest idea what "pigments" are, but collecting steadily tiny things
and just labelling them "pigments" without doubt. End up with 5 bags. One
yellow (mainly flower-buds + leaves and butterfly wings) one purple (some
kind of insect - like looking mushroom + flower-buds) - brown (all kinds of
small wet-shells, tree-mushroom, tree-bark),
+ green (I'm very selective here, since there's lets of chlorophyll - like
filled stuff around, so I collect only blozen-up little balloon - like looking
things which are attached to certain leaves) and finally a pinkish-brown,
from the stones of quarry on function.
We pass holes, which are dug out by wild-pigs.
. Coming to a cave-entrance, which Václav has estimated to be - 14 meters
long and narrow. Around she rocks of its entrance, we do a "prehistoric
communal cave-painting" with the pigments we found + some water + moss.
This is about finished after 30 min.
We walk another 11/2 hour passing the some of the quarry on function, a
chasm in it with water, bushes of blackberries, and through a path of
forest, which as Václav says, looks and s more or less still as t was,
according to grass patches, several thousand years ago, post glacial time.
"The younger the grass, the less plants t has."
The camping-base we are on then seems to be from the middle ages.
So we walk back, fill water bottles, eat. -
and as the days before: the bat flies by overhead as it gets dark.
end Angxx
Friday 6th August
Breakfast at 8 o'clock morning. Today we are going for all day trips. We are
crossing fields, forests and hills. Around us is beautiful landscape. Is hot
weather. We are looking for shadow.
Work with partners:
l.
2 min - 1 mm/sec - angel face - head isn't the centralising factor in the
body
2 min - 1 cm/sec - angel face - head isn't the centralising factor in
the body
2 min - 1 mm/sec - working face - head is super computer, controlling body
2 min - 1 cm/sec - working face - head is super computer, controlling body
2.
2 min - 1 cm/sec - angelic face - brain activity - brain activity -
super computer
2 min - 1 cm/sec - working, thinking face - no brain activity
2 min - 1 mm/sec - angelic face - brain activity
2 min - 1 mm/sec - working, thinking face - no brain activity
Dan came to make photos for documentation.
We continue are walking. Václav talking about interesting thinks (areas)
which we passing in a landscape. We are coming on "Tobolsk¢ vrch", it's
between Tetín and Srbsko. Here is small green cave and in this cave were
found graves from early Iron Age. Today or at this time has here owl home.
Václav was talking also about Bacín hill, where we will have camp next
week - about cannibalism.
Other interesting place where we have small stop is Domasov. Here is old
water system, place can have negative energy - because foul earth crust.
Now we are lunchtime here. Rolf and Sjoerd have this serviette from chef of kitchen.
Working place - near river - 10 min - freeze and 10 min moving 1 mm/sec,
1 cm/sec, 10 cm/ sec.
Then we are crossing and swimming in the Berounka River.
We were hiking on "Sanuv kout"
Working place - 15 min - touch a rock and cracking move 1 mm/sec.
7 min - work with partner 1 mm/sec - cracking move
start with some part of body - finished all body
Yellow and brown caves.
We are near Hostim - and we walking in the small river "Kacák" (Duck
brook) - then we are climbing to the cave "Above Kacák".
Near we are watching 2 mm big snails - very protected Piramidulla
Then we are in Srbsko - diner, beer, nice pub and people nice mood.
Beautiful spring - we are coming back to Kobyla at 12'o clock at night.
Haunt Ben saved us.
But M. and Rolf heard wild pigs behind a tent.
V Fire.
Becherovka.
F
A
L
L
I
N
G
(star)
and wishes.
(Martina)
Saturday 7th August
This time we woke up as early as 7:30 (am). No breakfast, no speaking
permitted, therefore any complaints. Tea and few cookies. Briskly heading
towards our "Kobyla" to "warm up" in the cave.
Finding a place inside to stay silent and concentrated for half an hour. Feel
the massive rock all around and above, stabil form; motionless, observing
breath (and stomach).
Soft light gradually revealing dome like space covered with a beautiful skin
like surface. Being back in the mother's body. Am I going to be born
again?
No choice. Crossing the fields, sky lot darker and darker. Passing by the
Konepruské Caves parking lot we approached finally the main site to be
explored with a kind permission of the "Certovy schody" (Devil's Steps)
quarry authorities. Two bear-size dogs gave us a friendly welcome by the
entrance gate and the guardian did show us the right direction to go -
downwards - to the hell.
Going deeper and deeper on the slope with no sight of the end only the
water pipe and electric cable joined us.
Surprisingly spacious quarry at the end, like a Vulcan opened towards the
sky, vast plain being gated by monsters of (heavy) industrial times.
Frank gave first instructions to settle individually on the ground to
experience the void, empty space, it's grand scale, rock bed and first
sudden shower over it. Placed to the contrast of the previous cave
internal experience. Sound of the water drops meeting the limestone.
Following exercise with use of an advanced X-ray technology. Vision of one’s body without flesh,
just a skeleton moving through the space.
Note: not necessarily a human skeleton - no speed limit.
Still position for five minutes and than five minutes of skeleton
dance/movement. Second part: standing posture, getting down to the ground
and back stand again. Very special place: pebble stones dunes amidst the
crater.
The question raised after this experience:
How many bones in the human skeleton?
(in alphabetical order):
Abgela.150, Frank.232, Martin.136, Martina.32<, Milos.193, Osamu.180,
Rolf.1400, Sjoerd.200, reality.???
Inspired by the dark clouds next action resulting in a real rain. Quarry
filled up by water, our bodies of a water substance = five minutes still
and next five minutes solved in a water becoming one fluid. Water creatures’
part of it!!!
Dried mud on the ground soaks the rain water
overall view
sardine can anti-blast shelter
Dan, the photographer making last photo before leaving to Prague
Great sound installation
prepared for us by the mine workers: holes drilled into the rock, partly
filled with water.
Little stone sent down into the hole creates surprise sound with a lot of
musical quality, echo extended.
glo
blo
Milos and Martin
recorded few samples for future generations.
Mountain of beautifully irony coloured sand in different shades of red-brown
on the way back >
(picture needs a lot of imagination)
Delicious soup and potatoes by Sonja and long long afternoon sleep...........
At about five p.m. "Kobyla" exercise, passing through the tunnel upper half of the body naked.
Observing the temperature difference between the two parts - concrete and bare rock. Much
more light feeling even blind in the tunnel (maybe caused by the very little contrast of the outside
and inside
conditions - no sun outside, a bit windy also > the border not easy to
recognise - more acoustics).
Two groups: me with Rolf, Angela, Milos.
Our instructions to play the breakfast action by other means at the fire
site. The other group watching us. I found difficult not to be literal and
descriptive in the action, thinking about "what to do next"; observed as a
long motionless interruptions by my partner. They were to watch our
speed. Than the roles changed, we watched the speeds of the other group.
Frank and Sjoerd apparently..?.. (resulting in breaking my umbrella),
Martin and Martina bit phlegmatic. At the end came out that they were to
choose to act or 10% speed up or down. Difficult to synchronise this movement
(often too fast) and arms for example (often too slow). Than work in
couple - movement speed 10cm per sec! Sjoerd looking for his ticks.
Difficult to start the right speed at the beginning for many of us - at the
end most OK
Setting sun light up suddenly upper edge of the quarry in the red light.
End exercise back in the cave: focus on the border of being outside/inside.
exploring the space in between - a slow motion, interrupted a few times by the
state of non-movement.
A bat was quite irritated by our presence and left without sounds goodbye.
Candle lit space especially impressive from the ground looking up. Shadows
projected on the "walls" diagonal layers of the stone.
Watching the stars by the evening fire.
Falling down.
Falling asleep.
(Osamu)
Sunday
morning "fire" most people make their "toilet" at the spring
Sonia, Clara seem to be sick
program from 2-7 at the big quarry
it is very hot, we are not in a big hurry
actual arrival a the quarry 2.30
plan: first hour in same couples as yesterday work on "skeleton" and "water"
- next 2 hours combination of "colour work" and "private" project
- rolf & Frank are filming
- - last hour exchange of the ideas for the "private projects"
"colour work": milos asks to go around, look at the colours
and name them in own words (write it down)
examples of results of the 'colour' work -
a rabbit-shit brown from a distance
a wetish intense deep red-dragon tear colour.
zesinalá
mastková
uneven cream-beige
middle brown scars
ghrite
prozilirostlice
kamenice
"private project": what can you imagine as a possible project in /
with the quarry, it can be anything from something for 5 minutes for
yourself to a plan that would take a year e.g.
[see further on]
filming (frank&rolf) the idea was born after the visit last year seeing the
quarry from above and getting all kind of visions about a single person in
that big space.
intermezzo by the guard racing with his car into the quarry.
together with his camouflage clothes he makes a threatening
impression (that's probably what he is hoping for) the problem appears
to be that he was watching with binocular from above and
only saw 2 persons so he was worried about the others.
because rolf did some water ballet in a mud pool and therefore was in need
of some cleaning we actually left the quarry far after 7. the guard made a joke by lifting the
gate bar; he also gave us a 2-litter bottle of spa.
according to the next plan we watched sunset, only not on the hill but at
the gate of the bar in Koneprusy (we really needed a beer). the owner of
the bar was an old lady, who walked with a stick. we had to get our beers
by ourselves from the garage. she only came to count the bottles at he end.
then we went uphill to the cave (aksamitova brana)
upon arrival it's almost dark. we stay a while at the entrance of the cave.
very dark, strong atmosphere, a tree growing out of the big opening in the
ground.
Milos does some "signing" with white pigment, loose powder.
picnic on the hillside under the stars, a lot of fun.
the trip home in an adventure. we are guided by Bene, Martin trusts him for
99%. the dog indeed brings us out of the forest in a small village we did
not yet visit. hurrah for Bene
Rolf carrying Milos to bed.
Sunday finished 03.00
Monday 9 August
Apparently Vaclav appeared last night, spoke with Sonja, helped her this
morning to leave, did shopping and returned at 11 A.M. all
under quite some rain. Brunch and uncertainty
about weather + program.
Vaclav relates some stories & legends/myths about the golden and white horse
I remember: reality will be only revealed to those who try not to see the whole.
2 green and 1 red bloke from Uranus.
Don't mix soft and hard science
Finally a pale blue appears in the sky, and around 13.00 A.M. we are on our
way to Aksamitova brana, IT get's actually HOT.
* On the hillock behind cave we do 30 minutes of basic work (1 cm/sec. 1
mm/sec + skeleton, wake & immobility)
the speed work with both angelic & frowned face (alternating) and making up
your own order.
* Manipulation 1&2 FRA-MI, RO-OS, AN-Martina, SJO-Martin
+ a 5 minute request.
. under bridge of the cave an 8-station machine of 1 minute each.
moving counter clockwise when Timekeeper gives Sign. 2 Rounds of 8 and the
last round of 8 minutes crossing to another station at random. After some
remarks of Angela & Milos about the staccato, bony structure of the machine
not helping to enter the material we do one other round of 8 min. while
- taking fragments of the station you leave towards the new one to avoid cuts
and - bits and snippets remain of all stations and there is a sense of
accumulation 8 layering. TO BE DEVELOPED.
- timekeeper: walk 60 steps and return to this spot! give clear sign!
- move here and now speed above 10 cm/sec + travel
- move as if in Big kotyz quarry
- water in and around you. face down, on belly
- move as if in cave of Kobyla
- beetle on its bac spine + head move with 1 cm/second
- skeleton 1 meter high.
- upper body skeleton, lower body water
* WALL PANTING - MORE GENTLE 20 min green team - 20 min black team.
Milos proposes next one to be each person working alone one after another. Angela
says her painting is informed by other's actions.
* At night. after COPIUS and LUXURIOUS dinner, talk about PRIVATE PROJECTS
and kind of EVALUATION and possible continuation.
private projects:
sjoerd + emptiness. becoming empty & filling the whole quarry
+ the surface of the rocks as the skin that divides the outside
space and inside space of the rocks.
he imagined to be at the part in the quarry that will be gone the
soonest (next day by the explosion)
so there will be emptiness very soon and at that place trying to become
empty
& the opposite - trying to fill the emptiness of the whole quarry with
your presence/body
martin
"tribal" imagination of several fire places, people moving around, making
shadows > in a special way
felt a connection with the fossils of life forms that lived at the bottom
of the area
also sound experiments could be part of it
> maybe try out / transport some of this ideas to another situation
angela
the children's lemon-yellow
bodies of 5 year old children
enlarged to immense size:
of the future, where there is no
more landscape.
There is only the lemon-yellow
skin, and a vacuum within.
They act as one group, travelling
through their desolation and
despair as seen from above.
They walk on one smiling face.
with the crater as the mouth.
two hills as its eyes, one big,
one small, and the rock lining
as its nose.
action: 7 min.
they want attention from a face above mirroring the smiling face.
Then they slowly give up as they can't get on top of the eye.
They 'bout only walk as suddenly, behind one of the eyes,
they find the magic black hat.
martina
attracted by a strong red colour on an earth hill. there arose a strong
connection with a video film she saw of a woman running in a desert in australia.
she made some drawings on her skin with the colour. later she tried to run like
in the film.
2nd day at the same place she made drawings like on feathers of a bird. she
wanted to run again, blind. now as herself, fighting with some of her fears.
she feels now it can be done too at another location.
osamu
. going very a long distance. trying to catch the exactness of his speed
(also entering the quarry with different speed)
. because of the strong whiteness, almost unbearable for his eyes exploring
with closed eyes the borders of shadow and sun.
frank
. to create the middle of the quarry a mini copy of the quarry, with some
toys
. to set a big table in the quarry with a nice diner for us, in evening dress
vaclav
connect the quarry always with a concert of the Rolling Stones
. feels a connection with the group, has a kind of parallel program
our presence. generates a different awareness of the environment
he is a kind of orbiting around us
cannot stay at home really, at midnight looking for the train to return to be in the
neighbourhood of the group.
milos
. was expecting a much bigger space (maybe because of the new terrace)
. space unfriendly, dead, so white he cannot see
. surprised by the water under the ground, in the drill holes (with the sounds)
. he imagined being in a green valley instead of there
rolf
. last year the big quarry was totally empty, the bottom was flat
we looked in it from above and immediately had all kind of imaginations about
a "performance" in it. e.g. just 1 person in the quarry moving, playing, dancing
> this led to the ideas for the film
. interested in big surfaces, areas that has the same colour, structure, and atmosphere
. would like to dance in the quarry with one of the big machines
notes from general evaluating discussion:
sjoerd: my awareness changed so much.
> it sharpens, also affects my memory
ex. was WALKING BACKWARDS, where things open.
martina: moving s new for me (fresh)
something s developing. feels necessary.
massage = learning // lost body while feeling others
she is happy she has legs & arms.
martin: explore time loops, gaps & connections. find RELATIVITY of INSIDE & OUTSIDE
space
angela: appreciated the hidden things that appeared suddenly.
frank: . a desire to move like "the birds that fly around inside the rock"
. a wish to connect "daily camp life" and "work" more
. exploration / extending the 1 minute "machine"
. continuation of the speed work.
Vaclav: the roots of some trees you cut survive and connect to other trees.
it's good to be in a forest that has a memory.
FILOGENESIS: primitive organism develops to "higher" forms.
Unlike Darwin's men/ape relation, there is an older man - tree - plant KINSHIP.
let's buy wine tomorrow.
rolf: connection between Vaclav's and our being here.
Inspiring how Václav wanders thru this landscape & history.
. rolf's work is partially about generating or realising different times
ANTS GRASS LIMESTONE Prehistoric LAYER IN OUR BRAIN?
COULD be link to find another relation between audience(s)/onlookers & dancer/performer
Bodywork under the rock bridge of The Golden Gate Cave (Aksamitova brana)
was one from the positive possibilities as to research the strong place. In
being here and out being there --a role of the time. The exercise was
good relation to the trying in - out feeling in the small cave in the Kobyla
Mine during dusk.
Majority of the participants is interested to go deeper in this way, when
one part of this emphasises the hidden layers of a human body during the
interconnection on the landscape and the second part emphasises the hidden layers
of the landscape body by the time of walking through it in different
times, focusing and moving of our bodies. Both ways should have the same
importance for us and we should stick them together. Personally, I am
interested in the connection this way.
You, a pinkish little line on the horizon!
Vaclav was connected on the Bacín Hill meadow with us!
Eclipse day
- Say hi telegram BOHEMIAE ROSA workshop / body-landscape-geology-
11th August - from base camp Bacin - 2nd day: - clear weather when woke
up - 15 mm later clouds - overall excitement because of arrival eclipse
sun frowned computer face
moon angelic face 3000km a second
Czech republic bohemia - ground control
to major sun - talk what to do before - few suggestions ranging from walking
in circles to mushroom rituals - personal projects before eclipse -
individual - Osamu and me watch View on landscape from base camp - something
like this - 11.15 a.m. - Osamu sees same thing - and shouts - it starts -
rolf puts video camera - all look through space silver glasses - it takes a
while - a while it takes - we want - pfff - moment supreme - light
dims - Vaclav leaves - clouds arrive - storm approaches - through hole
in cloud we see eclipse - for last time - rain - lunch - fire - 1 pm -
Angela's program - based on poem "the children's lemon yellow" - inspired by
visit big quarry - (see for whole poem 2 pages ago) - she brings us in a
circle to place near campsite - focus on things passing by-seeing, not
seeing - for 15 min behave like children of +- 5 years old - work
individual - we make 2 groups of us - all image big face as in poem -
have yellow skin - and empty bodies - we are big - everything else is
small - except face - face reflects in sky - try to attract its attention -
but, COMPETITION IN THE GROUP! - secretly - 20 min - both groups move in
strange speed - and dynamic - every-body tries to attract face in own way -
evaluation - total awareness of multi layered image in hard to grasp - maybe
need more steps -
next - choose partner - work 8 times 1 min - alternating roles - act as in
group before - every time respond to your partner -influence - build up a
competitive dynamic - end - personal relaxation before dinner at campsite -
extreme special messenger brings top secret codes for supper - I have no
authority to say who - look in little home made booklet for more detail
and information
codes as written on the individual 2-sided notes
for tonight end of dinner + coffee time
* when you mention the word "blue tent" you activate someone into "skeleton awareness" for
+- 5 min; starts within 5 min after you mention the word.
who? and how? he/she does it.
* when you hear "Benne is real hunter" you go +- 15 meters from fire,
watch sky and have water legs for +- 5 min.
* say "Benne is a real hunter": someone will go a bit away from the fire -
what does he/she do?
* when you hear "how is your knee frank" you move 2 parts of your body 1 mm/sec. while
rest remains normal, join conversation.
* mention the king of Belgium: someone will get a slight angelic face - and
have freeze (immobility) periods
who? how? she/he can talk!
* when you hear someone says - "blue tent" go into "skeleton awareness
while continuing the sound life; not too obvious a form!
* when you say "I'm looking forward to the night-program" you activate
someone into full body awareness. who? how?
* when you here "Is Vaclav coming back“ you move as if in Big Quarry
(not to obvious - continue social talk)
* when you say, "who has she best raincoat" you activate someone into
behaving like Vaclav who? how?
* when you hear "my eyes hurt a bit“ you go into little stops in your
(normal) movements +- (5 min)
* when you say, "is Vaclav coming back“ you activate some one into moving
as if in Big Quarry who? how?
* when you hear "who has the best rain-coat" you behave like Vaclav -
for 10 min.
- dinner at 5 pm - had strange aura - was full of codes - Milos lost his
codes on the way to make telephone call in village - Clara is OK -
greetings - 7 pm - evening is still long - instant evening program is
created - Frank knows game - everybody is blindfolded - stand in line
behind each other - 1st person takes of blindfold - Frank makes 4
movements - 1st person remembers movements - goes to 2nd person - 2nd
person takes of blindfold - 1st person tries to repeat the movements of
Frank - 2nd person remembers - does to 3rd person - and so on - until last
person moves - it is hilarious - total shift of movements occur in game -
repeat it several times - Angela has idea - everybody STAYS blindfolded -
exciting - strong resemblances within unseen, felt movements - time for next
game - clap - clap - clap - clap - clap - clap - clap - clap - clap - clap
clap - clap - clap clap - x - haha - hihi - and so on - until everybody
lost both arms - BEERTIME!! - jogging to village - jogging is healthy - warm
arrival - slivovitz makes us warmer - BEER stabilises - talk on
horror movies - jogging back - fire - instruction for night program - will be
implemented and executed - go together to cave - sit for 15 mn -
blindfold ourselves - and walk for 15 mn - undress - sit for 15 mn -
take of blindfold - light a candle - observe little surrounding - blow out
after 15 mn - start moving like place until cue - dress up - make up - walk
back a silence to fire - fire - for 30 mn we sit around fire - everybody
moves for few minutes like in forest - on request of Martina Osamu bought
special Slivovitz in Praha the other day - drink-eat chocolate - talk
about intense, strong experience in forest - I felt very vulnerable, when
naked - Frank felt the opposite - he got stronger - before sleep TICK
check - it didn't help - next morning I woke up with biggest TICK
I have ever seen stuck to my belly - It almost made it to it's
destination....
Thursday, 12th August after Solar Eclipse
Wake up early and quick view to the landscape, sky is blue, with white
light clouds. This means we can start our one-day trip to Plesivec Mountain.
We have to go to the train stop in Vseradice, a village next to Vinarice,
where we take our food supply. Four kilometres in fresh morning air
were quick and pleasant. Station at the end of the world.
We went by train to Lochovice, and from there we took a red sign to Plesivec
Mountain. It is interesting place because of a Celtic settlement, which was
pretty big, with several rings of protective walls. As we came close to
the hill, we realised different material, which the hill is created of (KREMENEC)
quartzite. This fact was important for us, to be able to compare the
bohemian carst, which is limestone, mostly dry and relatively warm, while
this quartzite kept much more cold and wet outside, lot of mossy stones and
large forested areas of Brdy Hills. So we went step by step to the top and
after short break we found first clear remains of the oppidum fortification
system. Automatically we started to follow the wall of still sharp stones,
and after a while we found beautiful place with fireplace, and 8 stone
armchairs, exactly the same as our group! We split into 2 groups = me,
Frank, Osamu + Milos. We decided to follow the wall fortification, and tried
to walk around whole hill circle. There were beautiful views to the
landscape, mossy ponds in the forest and lot of huts for scouts, coming to
spend their free time from city. Another amazing picture came when we saw in
the stone field under "Snake queen Rock" almost an pueblo with two blond
squaws, dressed as Sioux tribe Indians. After short while we sort of lost our
proper way through the forest. The other half of the group had to wait for
us nearly half an hour. We did the circle, but Martina and Rolf saw nice
tumulus graves. So we all followed them to see. The field of tumulus was very
large, and numerous. Than we passed a nice emerald lake on our way to the
Lhotka village. The restaurant, we all aimed for closed the door in front of
our nose, informing us, the hungry customers, that the keeper wants also to
eat. So we continued to Radous where pub was already closed, but luckily we
managed to buy some basic lunch in shop, which closed immediately after we
left. This was not all - waiting for a bus to Vseradice ended by driver's
refusal to take us aboard without Ben's protective "basket". Dreamy trip
continued on train where we slept like children. We ended up on the way
to our camp, and soon everybody disappear into his own nest to sleep. I
counted number of kilometres in total, at something like 25.
Friday, 13th of August
Breakfast and dinner are getting more and more luxurious each day!!!
One example: 3 different kinds of marmalade, yoghurt, rum-cappuccino-coffee.
Time for marketing Bacin Hill - holiday-resort-sun-shining.
15 min. individual prep. for work > at the meadow > stretching-out, shaking,
running, or mental exercises
15 min. per person; laying on a slope passively
muscles relaxed, partner moves that body into changing body-positions,
rolling, turning around
A - with same partner: 4 work; 4 watch. basic position - da Vinci
one millimetre shocks - work on precision simple at firs, later more complex
body posture changes slightly and regularly with the shocks
B - 1 cm/sec. shocks, again always localising movement + distance precisely
C - sitting with 10 cm p/sec shocks, get up to position B and then to A
this all happens on the meadow; with the landscape in the far background below
short discussion afterwards:
another 2 options could be:
(Rolf) "shock" also related to time, not only distance (1 cm shocks/distance in exactly 1 second)
or a metric version (Angxx) each second a shock
. walking downhill:
1 mm distance shocks 2 min
1 cm distance shocks 2 min
10 cm distance shocks 2 min
different sized shocks 2 min
--keep a fairly normal walking movement
Expanding peripheral field of vision
30 min, walking in a row along the field edges and into the forest.
Biggest person first, smallest last. Focus on nape of neck of person in front
of us, with soft eyes, during walking no looking downwards or anywhere
else.
BREAK: 15 min with communal 1 coffee-cup (Milos’s drinks most of it right at
the beginning since he hasn't heard otherwise.
PROGRAM: Milos, on the top of the meadows
Drawing landscape outlines on back of head
Drawing simultaneously on each other’s backs
.
Sitting next to partner 5 min. watching the outlines of the landscape in front of us together.
Then 15 min > person A eyes closed; person B draws these outlines on
the back of person A’s head; while still watching the landscape.
Watching again 5 min. together, then switch roles.
. Both people standing; watching 1 min together.
Simultaneously draw image of landscape from your memory on the other persons back with
closed eyes (10min)
(later on in pub short discussion about strategies of drawing onto a totally different sized and
shaped object; also relationship to eyes + vision > in on the front; processed further back in the
head;
sensation of drawing all the way on back of head).
Rolf's wild pig program by the deer-feeding place
Rolf's wild pig program turns out to be a walking program: in and around a circle keep own
walking rhythm; Rolfi calls out attention to different body parts while walking. Capture
information about own body of walking.
. Similar with 2 groups approaching each other > picking up details of another
person, you, imitate his/her walk - same with sitting down, up, lying..
. Then people do water or little shocks of 10 mm/10cm p/sec
(extended on the field also to the time/distance task)
and again, copy, imitate or become one of the other group.
WHERE ARE OUR GOOD OLD SELF'S?
Special about this program was the unpredictability of what Rolf will have
us do next. A bit like school - feeling; since everything was depending on
Rolf's continuous structuring verbally. No big authority - problems in this
group though - sometimes slight embarrassment.
Before diner: Franks "Time to take off your belts" Program
- see last page in this book, where a discussion was opened like a website-page -
Frank hold an impressive little speech before the first groups 20min working site was established.
Maybe he will add summarize some about the content in here still.
PUB!! out of slivowice, so beer, fernet + becherovka
dinner evening program similar to last, written by me
ang++
- Hearing "who's going to get more corn?" you become the body of a 5-years old with lemonyellow-
coloured skin - 10 min, keep conversing etc..
when you say "I'm almost ready" you trigger someone into doing everything 50% louder
than (more noise) usually, repeating what he/she has done in the last 10 min.
- When you say: "Could you please hurry up a little", observe someone drawing this
afternoon’s landscape with his/her knees into the air.
When you hear: " Does the Czech Republic have a good soccer-team?" you
respond with "I don't know" and move with the speed of the fire along your spinal-vertebrae
(small
movements!)
- When you say: "Are we moving to a different campsite tomorrow?" you trigger someone
into constantly changing the surfaces which are in touch with the ground and who thinks
upwards."
When you hear "Could you please hurry up a little" you draw this afternoon's landscape
with both knees into the air
- When you say: "Does the Czech Republic have a good soccer-team?" you trigger
somebody to move with the speed of the fire in his/her spine
When you hear the song: "Yesterday, all my troubles seemed so far away " you go into the
memory of last days' nap at the bus stop, and move with water in the head
- When you hear: "I'm almost ready" you ask "For what?" and behave like you are stressed
out a the here and now
When you sing: "Yesterday, all my troubles seemed so far away" you observe someone
while getting the memory of yesterday's nap at the bus stop and have water in the head.
- When you hear "Can you pass me the green cup, please?" for 5 min. go and sit, stand or
lie very close to someone else (double as close as you usually would), doing 10% of the
crackling skeleton.
By saying, "who's going to get move corn?" you trigger of someone to be the body of a 5-
years old with lemon-colour sin.
Friday - 13th August WEBSITE PAGE
CONCERNING THE EVENING WORK IN TWO GROUPS:
Milos, Rolf and Osamu lying legs in bush, body a meadow:
1 Long time nothing happened
2 Rolf climbing tree was interesting, but very hidden
3 Rolf sliding uphill - nice surprise
Rolf moving "walking" sideways - surprising quick movement
FROM OTHER BODIES I DID NOT GET THE INFORMATION.
"INSPIRATION IS THE LAST THING WE NEED" - stuck into my brain
OBSERVING SAME GROUP AS ABOVE: 10 min unknown territory (Rolf) + 10 min
movement
- The influence of the landscape situation upon the (dancers/movers/bodies)
- here: extremes in difference of visibility, borderline space:
possibilities light&non-light + hidden quality of bushes, density + open wide field
A Milos: very strong no-movement beginning - I believed it - question: is
there a desire to merge with environment (or one of its element) as a priority out ruling
others?
B which part of Osamu is active besides the special "thinker/observer"
> activate this more visibly?
C Rolf+ trickster-moments; where do the "parts" come from, which can so well
be described later from an observer as distinct; flow-search as I watch
curiosity
FRANK AFTERWARDS: tap on at least some amount of energy-concentration when
we repeat this way of working/kind of work the remaining days
Sjoerd Martin Angela Martina
+ - 8
+
Martin, Martina, Sjoerd, Angela
basic positions with relations to the places in woods
place position
M&M verticality (wood) sitting
S rocky into
A gently flatting lying
moving
M&M from sitting - to - laying - walking - through
- or - sitting continually
S from into to the details - observing - walking and another
details as smell
A from laying to verticality > expressively
> correlation to the tree
A M? S M?
Saturday, 14th of August
Wake up when sun is on this Bacín meadow.
Breakfast 9.30.
15 min I was manipulating with Ben. Then we start at 10.30 on second
small meadow near camp.
15 min - physical and mental warming up.
Short manipulation - small talk - I have to learn more, trying to ask
somebody.
1) work 3 min - moving 10 cm/s, all body, brain concentration, head
computer - 4 people working, 4 people watching
2) work 3 min - moving 10 cm/s, all body - without brain concentration -
small talk
3) put angelic face & computer face - 3 min watching faces of other person
4) moving 1 cm/s = starting neutral position, after 4 min go back to the neutral pos.
2 min - computer control body with - angelic face
2 min - body without brain control - thinking face
2 min - computer control body - thinking face
2 min - body without control - angelic face
- same with 10 cm/s
- 15 min - break for coffee and cookies.
Sjoerd's - program
We have to choose numbers from 1 to 8
1= around pond/Frank 5= ridge/Milos
2= tower/Osamu 6= Angela's zone/Rolf
3= cave 1 north /Angela 7= campsite/Martin
4= cave 2 south/Martina 8= space behind campsite with house/Sjoerd
- go to the place, fix your position (immobility), eyes can observe - 10 min
- then you move blindfolded, different speeds 15 min
- then you collect different materials 10 min
- bring to the camp and make some composition on sheet of paper.
- make partners 3/2 5/1 8/7 6/4
- 10 min moving around this composition and thinks from another space.
Short and Sjoerd talk.
Lunch time "Bacín case"
After lunch, working with partner: around pond
1) - 1 person sitting, 1 person standing
after 1 min sitting person closes eyes and standing person draw pond
on sitting person head - 10 min
2) - 2 persons looking on the pond - 1 min
then they draw on each other’s faces - 1st person - moving leaves
2nd person - reflection from leaves
3 - you have to make small sound near partner's ears
Then work with Rolf's instructions. Running through meadow, work with
partner - imitating different animals. I fell mixed with so many animals and
people here.
We need some beer-we are talking about animals and speed in the pub in
Vinarice.
Osamu was really good/best, (mosquito).
We are cooking late - "Bacín case"
Windy night.
Sunday, 15th August
# Special windy atmosphere (as in Antonioni's film "Blow up") accompanying
our all day trip
- first exercise in tag train:
first train: Vseradice -Zadní Treban
us behave as individuals not knowing each other
- second train: Zadní Treban - Beroun
we cosy a couples as good friends
- third train: Beroun - Vráz
individual but seeking contact
# Sun light glittering/flickering through the light green leaves of the trees
above on our way down to the Svat¢ Jan Pod Skalou village with an old monastery and
in-cave-built chapel.
# Being all together in the small cave under ground of an old quarry near by
The St. Jane on the way down to Srbsko passing by cascading waterfalls
- exc: free movement in three minutes intervals, no thinking, all together and
nature
Saying goodbye to the Vinarice pub and last supper.
Osamu's diner instructions which were not (at) all executed:
1
You imitate movements of the left hand of a person on your left side being
10 second late
You see somebody watching very wide using only peripheral view
2
3
4
5
Draw the surrounding landscape with your body
You see somebody producing the same sounds as the person on his/her right
side but being 10 second later.
6
Try to produce the same sounds as the person on your right side but being 10
second later.
You see somebody trying to express the whole group "spirit" changing in the
time.
7
Try to express the whole group "spirit" changing in the time
You see somebody with ... monkey in his/her head
Osamu’s remarks:
Monday, 16th August
s t r o n g e s t e x p e r i e n c e
1 (frank)
birds soaring through the rock
Bacin by night
after Sjoerd's program when taking off blindfold
2 (angela)
dreams (2x) and sensation during day
skeleton big quarry (as group+ w/Milos)
Rolf's umbrella act
sitting on top of Kobyla
sense of power esp. last half of the night program
time conception while moving m/little shocks on top of the "climbing" area by Berounka-river
bugs (skeleton cave) sj. - program
walking from 1mm/sec to fast speed://
O-drawing lake onto skull
arrival at aksamitova brana-cave m/tree - I felt the horse, I swear.
sensing where & where I have no fears.
being taken over / sensing darkness in+out
3 (martin)
walking blindfold into cave & staying for 30 minutes
same cave (later) working with different speeds movements
axamitova brana at night
4 (osamu)
sitting on terrace with Václav
(and later after .......)
5 (milos)
My strongest experience was also the fact we, everybody was able to meet on the
different very strong places in the focused part of the landscape.
I liked best the days where all disciplines was compound in the exercises.
I liked least bad financial fundament of the workshop.
working by night
waterfall sing
lake during SE
walk with Vaclav through the stream
Ben's skip
6 (martina)
I had and I still have so many strongest feelings in different levels. I
said before -" I'm so happy that I have arms and legs (body) "," I did not
know about,
Thank you everybody.
I will have to say more after some time spent in my usual and normal /
working days, place.
7 (rolf)
sitting on terrace (Vaclav)
mosquito (Osamu)
dance martina (Sjoerd's work)
8 (sjoerd)
The Kobyla cave as a space impressed me a lot. Through the group work we did
in the cave I think we got very close to the essence of it. It made me
aware of the generative power it contains, which a lot of spaces lack.
The drawing on the head, first the landscape of our view, later at the pond
put me in a lot of thoughts. I think the relationship, which one establishes
with the direct environment through drawing, is very strong. It is like a
discovery of a new sense. The most interesting is I think the fact the
"geology" of the head one draws on informs the drawing in this way. I feel
there are a certain balance between landscape "geology" and the head geology.
9 (vaclav)
I liked the way the group was perceptive to the landscape so I
became perceptive to a landscape in a different way. It was like drinking
from underground river, which was fed by the landscape and individual
consciousness of other people, all homogenised, strong and gentle.
w h a t l i k e d l e a s t
1
time on/off <> training!
form of concentration in nature!
2
other trains ride
other parts of walks
last beer
first part of Rolfs first program. (Why? It was really good!)
soja-meat
the long walk on Friday
sometimes group dynamics (middle to end of 2d week)
boredom without emptiness
3
I did not like to do things, I did not feel related with:
A Yellow lemon skin (I like the poem, not Bacin space);
B Painting Axamit. Gate, it does not need any art.
4
- total eclipse
- difficulties to get the rhythm of a slow movements in short pauses between
long wandering / walking distances
- could have been a bit more intensive, especially second half
Note: I should apologise for the mobile (disturbing).
5
developing one theme of the body moving
intolerance (respect to the mythical viewing of the landscape - Vaclav - is possible to give
on the another’s ways)
(question of rolf: I do not understand the "intolerance")
not so strong connection to the landscape
6
Bacín part - I can't say 'least', it was different feelings and working
7
eclipse - day
staying/camping too long on one spot
Milos not being very happy
8
I guess there were too many walks which did not always connect with the preference of the group
working-walking was sometimes unbalanced - so the intensity dropped.
9
I believe that for the next time more comfort is needed, which will
attract 3-4 more students, stable cooking assistance, being tired sometimes
opens the doors for different perceptions, more often it blocks it.
9
I believe that for the next time more comfort is needed, which will
attract 3-4 more students, stable cooking assistance, being tired sometimes
opens the doors for different perceptions, more often it blocks it
w h a t l i k e d b e s t
1
OSAMU - BEER - ANGELA - FIRE- MARTIN - SKY - ROLF - SUNRISE SET - MILOS -
SLIVOVICE -
- MARTINA - INJURIES - SJOERD - RAIN - VACLAV - WALKING - FOOD - PROGRAM
- BEN – FRANK
2
some train rides
some parts of walks
moments of going to sleep
first slivowitz
swimming (Berounka-river)
seeing a deer while peeing by myself in the woods
"taking off-belt-" work
everything in Kobyla
when physical sensation simply falls together w/surrounding (mirroring-)/or expanding
3
I like best working in spaces like Kobyla + big quarry
learning the time relativity of movements > any time based art
I appreciate the last work near Srbsko, mainly because we were all involved
in the same time and we finally opened our inner world to others.
I think also of there is a group of people, staying together, for 2 weeks,
it is good to do some piece together.
4
- good sense of humour
- axamitova cave by night
- new body experiences in the movement
- work a the big quarry - kind of a strange isolation
(especially first day after being a the small dark cave: large scale, openness, sound, colours, sun,
space, skeleton & water work, + stories around)
far way to go down, I found rising strong also
- Vaclav Cilek talks
- overall atmosphere, many layered structures approaches of everybody
- fire-flies
5
graduation exercises
connection between ones
connection of a humour (Rolf)
6
Kobyla part - Aksamitova brana, Kobyla mine
all working parts was new for me
7
2 days in the big quarry
the challenging of Vaclav
8
9
to feel life around - the grass I was sleeping on full of action,
the beetles everywhere and very alive making you feel as the real part of
the grassland
Bacín Hill and Vinarice u Berouna
our camp on Bacín hill
our corn dinner
Kobyla
to the Vseradice railway station
our pub
************
martina tomásková
sjoerd van oevelen
osamu okamura
martin janícek
milos sejn
rolf meesters
angela köhnlein
frank van de ven
vaclav cílek