The opening talk “Introduction into Contemporary Walking Arts” provides a historical and conceptual foundation for walking as an artistic practice. Starting with Rousseau, and passing through Baudelaire, Thoreau, the Dadaists, Situationists, Richard Long, Fulton, Solnit and Stalker, the session traces how walking has evolved as a method of thinking, art-making and social critique. Participants explore global genealogies and contemporary frameworks beyond Western models, learning to recognise walking as a critical, culturally varied practice with community relevance.

• a 30min general introduction and overview of the course by Fred Adam and Geert Vermeire
• a short walkthrough of the online course information pack
• two 45min presentations “Introduction into Contemporary Walking Arts” by Yannis Ziogas
• In between the two presentations, expect interactive breakout sessions and flash walks by Mary Marinopoulou

All essential information about participating in the course will be shared during this first session.

First session of the opening Module “Foundations of Walking Arts”, grounding participants in the genealogies and foundations of walking as an artistic and social practice. Walking is approached as an everyday activity that has been transformed into an artistic gesture, a research method, and a form of cultural inquiry. Participants explore historical and contemporary lineages—from early avant-garde practices and ritual movement to socially engaged and place-based walking art—while reconnecting theory to embodied experience.
Here, walking is understood as a situated practice, shaped by context, habit, and attention. Participants begin developing their own walking practice by attuning to rhythm, perception, and the politics of movement through space.

Participation only by course registration