“ I met unbelievable people which I never ever expected to meet in my life.
They are all breathing the same air that we are breathing right now.
They all made a statement and see how much that changes
their situation of where they were right now. ”
Jeppe Hein
Video of Breathe with Me in New York City, September 2019
United Nations Headquarters
21-24 September, 2019
Central Park
25-27 September, 2019
Breathe with Me in New York City
Breathe with Me is a large-scale public participatory artwork for the entire world that invites audiences to paint their own individual ‘breath’. Every breath will take the form of painted blue parallel lines on the artworks’ canvas walls: each line for an exhale.
Breathe with Me is a work that is both deeply personal, and also a work that touches on many aspects of our lives, and the lives of our entire planet. Guided by the act of breathing, the participation invites audiences to reflect on themselves and the world around them. With all participant‘s painted ‘breaths’ gathered together, the artwork visualizes not only our individual awareness of ourselves, but also our communities, societies, and environment. Altogether, Breathe with Me is a collective breath for the world.
As an artwork that speaks to many urgent issues of the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its 17 global goals - from good health, to strong communities and climate action – Jeppe Hein and ART 2030, a non-profit organization uniting art with the UN agenda, initiated Breathe with Me first at the UN Headquarters and in Central Park, New York City, during the 74th session of the United Nations General Assembly from 21st to 27th of September 2019. The artwork coincided with this years’ official focus on climate action.
“ Breathe with me! ”
“ Breathe with Me is going to inspire people everywhere, to take a breath for the world. ”
2.800 participants painted 5.600 breaths
“ Træk vejret med mig! ”
“ Breath is life! ”
“ This is so beautiful. I mean it is about unity, about being aware, it is about being conscious. And it's fun! ”
“ Respira conmigo! ”
“ Benimle nefes al! ”
“ I never concentrated on my breath so much like today. ”
“ Atme mit mir! ”
More than 800 children from 24 NYC schools participated
866.880 m painted breaths on 438 m canvas walls
“ дыши со мной! ”
“ Breath connects! It connects your body with your soul and yourself with the world. ”
“ Adem met my! ”
“ Respire avec moi! ”
“ When you gain control over your breathing, you gain control over your body and brain. ”
“ Your breath is as individual as your fingerprint. ”
“ Diši sa mnom ”
“ All beings breathe! ”
“ Each stroke, one breath – and every breath is a moment. ”
“ Breath is the exchange with the environment and the universe. It shows us our interdependence. ”
“ Important is the short break after exhalation: Kumbhaka! ”
“ Breathe with Me reminds us that we are all in this world together. We all breathe the same air. And every breath gives us the strength to take action for a better world! ”