BREATHE weaves together narratives of studies in human breath, medicine and ancient plant remedies to explore the idea of coexistence in a world moved by invisible networks. Research was conducted in response to Wilhelm Pfeffer’s chronophotographic experiment involving the stages of plant growth. The project was supported by Deutsches Hygiene-Museum, Dresden, for the exhibition Of Plants and People. Sound composition: David Stalling: Stereo sound, duration 3’35” incorporating plant, tree and human breath recordings. Christopher Ash (film editor)

BREATHE is an exploration of air pollution and the influence of major European volcanoes—Etna, Stromboli, Vulcano, Campi Flegrei, and Vesuvius—examining the act of breathing through the lens of air.

BREATHE is an installation of works that provides an examination of breathing – why we breathe, how we breathe and what we breathe –exploring, the impact of pollution on the environment and breath as meditation. The works explore the importance of air and the co-existence between the lungs of the earth and humans. Using global seismic technology and ambient air monitoring, the project traces active eruptions to point to the cycle of the earth breathing within the carbon cycle of our ecosystems.

The first work entitled Connected by Air focuses on air and how we, as humans, can affect our surroundings. The installation is composed of a series of glass prisms embellished from the repeated application of thin, transparent layers of pigment made from volcanic ash to form an optical quality surface. The prisms appear identical, but when you look closely the film projections make the reflections on the surfaces distinct. The work premiered at Palais Des Beaus-Arts (Bozar) in 2021. The artwork takes as its subject the delicate ecologies and co-existence between the lungs of the earth, humans and plants. The project explores a selection of major European volcanoes and points to the cycle of the earth breathing within the carbon cycle of our ecosystems.

The artwork employs advanced seismic technology to illustrate the impact of volcanic eruptions on air quality, engaging visitors with the subtle light shifts that mimic the movement of underground volcanic signals.

The first inquiry is set on Eyjafjallajökull, the largest glacier and volcano in Europe. For over a decade, McDonald visited the highly eruptive part of Iceland to film the tension and perceived underground silence before an explosion. ‘When Eyjafjallajökull erupted, suddenly the wind currents became very present and particles of ash were disseminated through the air.’ Seeing this as a microcosm to represent the larger global ecosystem, McDonald explores what it means for us as we enter the next phase of human-induced climate change.

Together with scientists from the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre the project expanded into a wider inquiry of air and the role of major European volcanoes such as Etna, Stromboli, Vulcano, Campi Flegrei and Vesuvio to look at evolution and health through the prism of air.

Interventions and field trips to Catania, Sicily, Mount Etna’s pulsing, volatile terrain, inspire to unlock the potential of its chemical make-up. Namely, that the ash clouds above Mount Etna might enable us to counter the damage caused by our planet-warming carbon emissions. ‘An expedition to Mount Etna, examines natural processes and forces, as well as the minutiae of the rocks and the history of exploration in the territory. She notes, “Primarily looking at the consequences of our treatment of nature and exploring the notion of breath. Irish Times: Sue Rainsford Ash to art : 2019 Irish Times, ‘Ash to art: Can Mount Etna’s eruptions tackle carbon emissions?’ by Sue Rainsford [PDF]

"Connected by Air" was recently acquired for the Arts Council of Ireland's collection. It has been showcased at prestigious venues such as The Deutsches Hygiene-Museum (2019), Volta, Basel (2019), and Palais Des Bozar (2021). It was also shortlisted for the Falling Walls award and exhibited at Bridge Projects, USA.

Breathe, is a film responding to the broader context of air and how our breathing has changed due to the long process of human evolution and the fact that everything breathes, and everything is interconnected through breath.

The film weaves together narratives of studies in human breath, medicine and ancient plant remedies to explore the idea of coexistence in a world moved by invisible networks. Research was conducted in response to Wilhelm Pfeffer’s chronophotographic experiment involving the stages of plant growth. The project was graciously supported by Deutsches Hygiene-Museum, Dresden, for the exhibition Of Plants and People.

Breathe, Sound composition, collaboration with David Stalling: Stereo sound, duration 3’35” incorporating plant, tree and human breath recordings. Christopher Ash (film maker).

The work evolved into a project about the importance of the air and the unmistakable threat to plants and nature we face in the wake of climate change. Breath, after all, is a symbiosis between man and environment, man and plants.

Combining the breath of humans and plants, the project was divided into two phases of exploration and gathering: HUMAN BREATH – 50 humans Open call in collaboration with sound artist David Stalling we invited audiences to have their breath recorded at Trinity College Herbarium. The sound of the participants inhale and exhale formed a sound piece, which was then performed live at Science Gallery Dublin. PLANT BREATH – 50 plants: recordings in off-site locations from: The root systems of two felled Oregon Maple trees, sister trees in the front square of Trinity College, 50 plants from the Physic Garden, Trinity College. The project was supported by Trinity Creative Award: Future Breath

This project was commissioned by:

EU Commission: https://resonances.jrc.ec.europa.eu/installation/breathe

and for the exbibition ‘of plants and people’ at The Deutsches Hygiene-Museum, https://www.dhmd.de/en/exhibitions/archive/of-plants-and-people