When Air Takes Shape

"When Air Takes Shape," is a large-scale, kinetic art installation that visualizes the impacts of air pollution. It changes shape based on real-time air quality data - the audience can breathe with the structure’s dynamic expansions and contractions to embody the experience of those most affected by air pollution. They can control the installation and access more educational information on the accompanying tablet application.

Through this interactive experience, we aim to raise awareness and evoke empathy for air quality issues, ultimately creating lasting behavioral change.

This installation is built by a multidisciplinary community of more than 20 artists with technology, science, and arts backgrounds.

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WHY AIR QUALITY?

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), approximately 7 million deaths occur prematurely each year due to air pollution. 9 out of 10 people in the world breathe air that contains high levels of pollutants and exceeds the WHO’s air pollution limits.

Low- and middle-income countries are experiencing the greatest consequences of these challenges, with 90% of air pollution-related deaths occurring in these regions. Recognizing these disparities is a crucial first step to develop empathy and take action to tackle air pollution challenges.

From the moment we take our very first breath, air holds a fundamental but often “invisible” role in our health.

Like air taking shape uniquely within our bodies, our lives, and the world around us, this installation changes shape based on real-time, region-specific data as an abstract representation of how air quality impacts all of us differently.

This interactive installation encourages its audience to reflect on their personal relationship to air quality both locally and globally.

It also evokes a lasting, emotional response for those living with the greatest consequences of air pollution through the shared experience of a simple act - breathing.

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