The Act of Gliding
Luuk Scheers with friends, 5 March 2017, WG/Amsterdam
As part of my son's 13th birthday celebration, he invites his friends to our home. They discover the stairs in the hallwayand spontaneously devise a plan to use mattresses for sliding down it. This idea transforms the staircase into a playground, ripe for exploration and physical play. As they prepare to embark on their adventure, they unknowingly embody the principles of participatory sense-making and enactivism, weaving together rhythm, coordination, and collaboration in a tapestry of movement and interaction.
Rhythm permeates every aspect of their descent. With practiced synchrony, the boys position themselves atop the mattresses. This emergent rhythm is not dictated by external forces but arises naturally from the collective engagement of the boys with their environment and each other.
Coordination is key as they navigate the descent. Enactivism underscores the notion that cognition is rooted in embodied action, and in this playful context, the boys' physical engagement with the mattresses becomes a means of sense-making. Through their movements, they intuitively gauge the speed and trajectory of their descent, adapting in real-time to the shifting dynamics of the ride.
The rhythm of their descent further exemplifies the principles of shared sense-making and enactivism. As they slide down the stairs, their movements create a rhythmic pattern that resonates throughout the space. This emergent rhythm reflects their collective engagement with the activity, demonstrating how their actions are interconnected and mutually reinforcing.They communicate verbally and non-verbally, using gestures, expressions, and shared bodily rhythms to coordinate their movements. Each glide is a collaborative effort, with the boys working together to ensure a successful descent.
The act of gliding down the stairs, particularly using mattresses as a novel means, embodies the characteristics of shared sense-making and enactivism. In this event, the boys collectively perceive the staircase as an opportunity for adventure and play, demonstrating their shared understanding of the environment as a source of enjoyment and excitement.
By repurposing the mattresses in this manner, they transform the staircase into a dynamic playground, illustrating how their actions are shaped by their immediate surroundings and their collective intentions. Through their synchronized movements, rhythm, coordination, and collaboration, the boys co-create meaning and navigate the staircase with a sense of shared purpose.