Thursday, August 13, 2009

Introduction to Slet





Welcome to our Slet architecture and exercise blog. Traditionally, a slet is a mass display of Czech Sokol exercises and also means ‘a flocking of birds.’ Our Slet project recreates Sokol routines for contemporary reuse and trains groups of particpants to perform synchronised exercises at sites of modern architecture.

Slet explores the visual and social possiblities of exercising together outdoors and is a continuation of Modernist ideals that link healthy living with the aesthetics of the built environment. Each Slet event is dedicated to an architect associated with a specific site. Documentation of Slet events is used as source material for future artworks, videos and installations for exhibition.

Sokol was founded in 1862 by Dr. Miroslav Trys as an egalitarian cultural movement for Czech people of all ages, sex, race and religion to exercise together. Czech immigrants spread Sokol around the world to become an international movement, which continues today.

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Contact Felicity & Caroline
Email: info@oopps.org

Our slets to date:

Slet for Foster
Sainsbury Centre for Visual Art, Norwich
June 2008


Slet for Lubetkin
Finsbury Health Centre, London
October 2008


Slet for Corbusier
Barbican Centre, London
March 2009


Slet for Marten
Tooting Bec Lido, London
August 2009


Slet for Hepworth
Walthamstow Town Hall, London
September 2009

Further images from past slets are archived at http://www.oopps.org/biblioblography.html