∞OS Activation Program: Polysingularity, Adaptivity and Resilience

In this EightOS activation session we will explore the notion of polysingularity in the urban and natural settings.

Polysingularity is the ability to maintain both the local and global perspective, adaptively shifting the point of view, mood, tension, release, attitude and physicality, while also maintaining consistency and intention over a period of time.

Combining interactive physical exercises, theoretical discussions and field work, we will explore:
• Resilience and endurance strategies (using the dissipative movement, rhythm and breathing)\
• Assimilation and redirection strategies (in interactive pair exercises)
• How tension and release can be modulated to drive action towards a specific outcome
• How distraction and confusion strategies can be used to play with time
• Confluence as a source of power (riding the force that is stronger than you)

Day 1 – 9/11/2019

Studio Work (or outside, depending on the weather)
15:00 – 15:20 Introduction to EightOS
15:20 – 16:20 Physical Practice of Assimilation and Confluence
16:20 – 16:40 Feedback
16:40 – 17:20 In-corporating the discussion, physical practice
17:20 – 17:40 Break
17:40 – 18:40 Resilience and endurance techniques: rhythm, breathing, dissipation
18:40 – 19:20 Real-life applications outside of the physical context
19:20 – 19:40 Discussion
19:40 – 20:00 Reset and relaxation

Day 2 – 10/11/2019

Field Work (forest, public transport and city context)
15:00 – 15:30 How to trick a U-bahn controller
15:30 – 16:00 Group walk, synchronization, collective action
16:00 – 17:00 Confluence and fluidity of movement
17:00 – 17:30 How to react to shock
17:30 – 17:50 Break
17:50 – 18:40 Collective SWARM action
18:40 – 19:40 Walking backwards with eyes closed through the forest
19:40 – 20:00 Discussion
20:00 Closing ritual

An important part of EightOS approach is to approach the body as the main vessel for understanding the new concepts. This allows us to incorporate the new patterns of behavior on the level of reflexes, making them part of our day-to-day operating system.

At the same time, the OS stands for the “open source”, meaning that you are welcome to change the “code” in any way you wish and making your own journey with it. This session is merely an opportunity for all of us to come together and to try out some new things, which we can then keep with us to use them as inspiration to find something new or to reinforce the opposite.

The core of EightOS approach is to stimulate the adaptive capacities of our perception and of our body, learn the techniques that enable us to be resilient within a changing environment, while maintaining adaptive fluidity from within.

Our practice is based on the various practices ranging from Systema martial arts to Noguchi Taiso (Japanese body work), EightOS also takes inspiration from the latest research in dynamical systems theory and network science. We combine body practices with the theoretical knowledge, building a reciprocal link between our physicality and technology, preparing our bodies for the dance in the 21st century and beyond. Exploring the aesthetics of ecological confluence — with each other, with our environment, and also within.