Breathing Pavilion by Ekene Ijeoma created a public space of reprieve during this time of intense hardship and loss. Visitors were invited to enter the pavilion and breathe in time with the changing light for a moment of communal meditation.
Breathing Pavilion was on view March 16–May 11 at The Plaza at 300 Ashland in Brooklyn. Co–produced by Van Alen Institute and Downtown Brooklyn Partnership, Breathing Pavilion was our first public realm installation in the borough.
About Breathing Pavilion
Breathing Pavilion comprised a 30-foot circle of 20 nine-foot two-tone illuminated inflatable columns. These columns slowly modulated in brightness to illustrate a deep breathing technique designed to bring calm. Visitors were invited to breathe in time with the changing light and attune themselves to a shared rhythm of respite.
Created in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic and systemic racial injustice in the United States, Breathing Pavilion offered sanctuary at a time of intense hardship and loss, suggested a paradigm shift towards communion and meditative stillness, and created an accessible space of reprieve when the act of breathing itself is under siege.
Breathing Pavilion is part of Van Alen Institute’s Public Realm R&D program, intended to surface the work of emerging designers and test new strategies to bring people together in public space.
Presented with support from Two Trees Management Co.
About Ekene Ijeoma
“Between the ongoing struggles in the racial and political movements in the United States and the COVID-19 pandemic, it can be difficult to find the time and space to breathe deeply and rest well. I held my breath for most of last year, waiting to exhale into a new administration and new vaccines. It will still take some time before we see large-scale change. Until then, in these next few weeks, this pavilion is here to invite the public to breathe into the change within each of us, in sync with one another.”
—Ekene Ijeoma
Ekene Ijeoma is an artist, professor of Media Arts and Science at MIT, and founder/director of the Poetic Justice group at MIT Media Lab. Through both his studio and lab at MIT, Ijeoma researches social inequality across multiple fields including social science to develop artworks in sound, video, multimedia, sculpture and installation.
Ijeoma’s work has been commissioned and presented by art institutions including Contemporary Art Museum of Houston, The Kennedy Center, Museum of the City of New York, Neuberger Museum of Art, and Annenberg Space for Photography. Ijeoma’s practice has also been supported by grants, fellowships and residencies including Creative Capital, Map Fund, Wave Farm, The Kennedy Center, and New York Foundation for the Arts.
Events
Breathing Pavilion hosted a weekly music series of site-specific performances featuring solo wind and percussion jazz musicians in meditative sets. View archived live streams of the performances below.
Tuesday, 3/23: Kalia Vandever, Trombone
Tuesday, 3/30: Melanie Charles, Flute
View archived live stream.
Tuesday, 4/6: Joel Ross, Vibraphones
View archived live stream.
Tuesday, 4/13: Baba Don Babatunde, Percussion
View archived live stream.
Tuesday, 4/20: Neil Clarke, Percussion
View archived live stream.
Tuesday, 4/27: Lakecia Benjamin, Saxophone
View archived live stream.
Tuesday, 5/4: Participatory Drum Circle led by Mr. Fitz of the Brooklyn Music School
Saturday, 5/8: Keyon Harrold, Trumpet
View archived live stream.
Press
Inflatable pillars pulse with light to encourage deep breathing in Brooklyn
Dezeen
Meditate At This Calming New Art Installation In Downtown Brooklyn
Secret NYC
Take a Breath With New Art Installation at 300 Ashland in Fort Greene
Brownstoner
This futuristic new Brooklyn art installation is meant to calm you down
Time Out New York