The Spheral World of Flow Arts

Some say that flow is a thin line between discipline and surrender. Some say that it is connected to synchronicity. Some do analytical research observing the brain functions during the mentioned state. Some have been telling tales and dancing within its dynamic.

see also: ART OF US: The Collaboration of Human Vision and Artificial Intelligence

Flow art

We are a couple of billion people here, experiencing and observing some flow along with many others. It might be a moment of sipping cocktails in the sunset, sinking into an inspiration for hours, or washing the dishes in auto mode. Whenever we let go of the self-aware thoughts and tap into presence, we’re in the flow. There have been many ways of pouring this state into practice through time. Practices that allow us to channel into the trance of a moment, and lead us outside of the self-conscious mind. Like yoga, movement, and creative expression. Today, I will be telling you about Flow Arts, a beautiful combination of alignment, coordination, and motion. So, if you’ve ever come across a fire-dancer spinning around some burning shapes with eye-catching materials at the beach or someone aesthetically sliding a staff on their naked skin and wondered about what this powerful way of moving is about; join me to take a small peak into the history of this jazzy form of art.

Flow Arts is a recently introduced term that unites several movement-based practices under its roof including juggling, hooping, fan dance, fire-spinning, and object manipulation. All of these practices are integrated with many other performative and martial arts as well. Since many of them have derived their roots from ancient times, they were shaped differently by many cultures over the years and blended into various disciplines. The first known wall paintings depicting people’s interaction with props date back to Ancient Egypt, nearly 4000 years ago. The earliest forms of juggling were practiced in ancient China, Egypt, Greece, and the Roman Empire. Hooping has 3000 years of history, as seen in the wall paintings in Ancient Egypt. Similarly, Poi has been the traditional dance of the Māori people of New Zealand for hundreds of years: A cultural, performative practice accompanied by dancing, singing, and creating shapes using poi. As these forms of movement are being practiced for a long time, their extent has expanded through modernization and interaction over the years. Many other tools and techniques have also found their place among them including LED fans, visual hoops, and dragon staffs creating a part of the festival culture.

The regular practice of Flow Arts improves bodily coordination while activating both sides of the brain, and enhancing focus. It nourishes the sense of presence and guides the person in a flow state. The use of materials during the practice also adds up to learning deeply about accompaniment, as flow and movement are two inseparable dynamics that form endless circles, swirling around each other and creating a unit. Moreover, stringing along with the acceleration of an object can be the perfect representation of the universal mechanic of the flow. From the earliest known practices of flowing with props to the latest modernized fashion; the practices have been intertwining with each other through inter and cross-cultural communication, turning Flow Arts into an ever-expanding form of art. And it feels serene to dive into the waters of free motion.

REFERENCES

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poi_(performance_art)Performance Art

https://drexfactor.com/weirdscience/2016/03/14/history_flow_arts_part_1

https://www.drexfactor.com/weirdscience/2016/03/06/what_are_flow_arts

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hooping

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_juggling