Written In The Body
bücking&kröger explore the cultural technique of practicing
Text: Susanne Gietl
What influence do experiences inscribed in the body have on our movements and in what way do they change our artistic practice? In “PRACTICE”, Florian Bücking and Raisa Kroeger explore their own resilience with the help of physical exercises – always aware of the possibility of failure at any time and of sensing one’s personal vulnerability. Constant exercise becomes a strategy for coping with crisis and pain. Current mass phenomena such as yoga, meditation and mindfulness trainings as well as spiritual rituals such as prayer choreographies or Dervish dances are examined by bücking&kröger in terms of their potential for resilience and self-care. Of these, which is just a commercialized trend? And how approachable are the practices? In parallel, the duo deals with techniques used by ballet dancers, athletes and acrobats, in which the trained body is characterized by perfection and virtuosity.