PERFORMANCE LAB I.: THE SPACE OF SELF-CARE
with Mariella Greil and Viktor Fuček (AT and SK)
“Art is the truth of feeling, a revelation of hidden foundations.” (Henri Maldiney)
How do we listen to our bodies? How are our stories, memories, and relationships inscribed within us? How can we slow down and become more aware of ourselves and our bodies in daily life?
In the Space of Self-Care, we will explore how we perceive our own bodies and how we respond to others and the space around us through gentle guided movement exercises, breathwork, vocal expression, touch, and mindfulness. We will work individually, in pairs, and as a group, with the freedom to participate at any moment only as much as feels comfortable to you.
The lab is built on the principles of voluntary participation and respect for personal boundaries. It is not about performance or correct execution—what matters is the experience, perception, and attention directed inward.
The lecturers draw from somatic and movement practices in contemporary performance art that interconnect the body, emotions, memory, and perception. It also includes simple techniques that help release tension, calm down, and reconnect with your body.
No prior dance or movement experience is required. The only thing needed is an openness to trying new things without any pressure to perform.
The lab is divided into two parts that build upon each other. You can register for the entire lab or for one of its parts.
Part 1: A Space of Self-Care for All Generations (Friday, Saturday, Sunday, 21/8 to 23/8)
The first part introduces slow and mindful approaches focused on the internal layers of the body. What will it bring you?
- Mindfulness toward your own body: We will develop the ability to better perceive our body, breath, needs, and boundaries.
- A sensitive exploration of relationships and connections: Through individual and group exercises, we will discover how we connect with other people and the space around us.
- Tools to calm the body and mind: We will learn gentle techniques for working with tension, stress, and soothing the nervous system.
Part 2: Under the Skin – Fascia, Memory, and Release (Monday, Tuesday, 24/8 to 25/8)
What lies beneath movement? How do experiences settle in the body, and how can they gently shift? In the second part of the lab, we will focus on fascia—the delicate connective network in the body that surrounds muscles, organs, and bones, influencing our movement, tension, and bodily perception. What will the second part of the lab bring you?
- Deepening physical perception: We will explore deeper layers of movement and perception through fascia work and conscious awareness.
- Exploring the body’s memory and movement patterns: We will focus on how experiences are stored in the body and how we can gently alter deep-seated tension or movement habits.
- Improving mobility and body release: Through various movement exercises.
Who is the Lab open to?
We invite everyone from 15 to 99+ years of age, regardless of any prior experience with movement, dance, or performance art. The lab is open to anyone who wants to slow down, become more aware of their body, and discover new ways of self-care in a safe and respectful environment.
It can be highly engaging for both younger and older generations, for those who work with people, those involved in art, education, or the helping professions, as well as for anyone looking for a space to regenerate, listen, and experience an intergenerational encounter. We will work within the intimate atmosphere of a smaller group—limited to 15 people.
Schedule
- Friday, August 21, 2026 from 18:00 to 20:00
- Saturday, August 22 – Sunday, August 23, 2026 from 10:00 to 17:00
- Monday, August 24 – Tuesday, August 26, 2026 from 15:00 to 19:00
- Saturday, August 29, 2026 – final celebration from 16:00 to 19:00
Admission is free, but capacity is limited to 15 people. Reserve your spot today:
Who will lead the Space for Self-Care?
Mariella Greil is an internationally active artist, performer, and researcher who has long been dedicated to contemporary performance, particularly its intersections with choreography and ethics. She works at the Angewandte Performance Laboratory at the University of Applied Arts Vienna, teaches performance at ArtEZ, and choreography at Codarts in the Netherlands. She is a co-editor and author of publications on performance, choreography, and the body. mariellagreil.net
Viktor Fuček is an artist, academic, and architect who blends fine art, performance, music, and spatial design. He is interested in the “extended body”—ranging from painting to the urban environment, where the meanings of nature, culture, society, and politics intertwine. He has presented his work at major events, was a finalist for the Oskár Čepan Award in 2015, and received the Benhoode Foundation Award in Turin in 2024. He currently works at the Faculty of Fine Arts at the Academy of Arts in Banská Bystrica and as an external lecturer at the University of Applied Arts Vienna. www.viktorfucek.net
What is performance?
Performance is one of the diverse forms of action art. The artist does not merely create an object to be exhibited, but involves themselves—their own body—in the presentation. The creation of the artwork often takes place directly with the participation of those present—the audience—who frequently become direct participants in the process of creating the artwork.
