breath art:
a practice which investigates breath as the primary force of dynamic breath expression in bodies that perform.
The Breath Art Project will investigate how breath can be identified and studied as a primary actor in practices of dynamic performance expression, and how embodying conscious breath techniques can strengthen different performance output, which will help design a brand new breath art methodology to contribute to, and complement, already standing curriculum. Until now, the role of breath as a central part of the performative and interpretative act has been largely under analysed, treated more as utilitarian, and lacks definition as an essential form of communication and tool to discover and embody authentic expression. This project, therefore, will analyse and define breath's agency in performing bodies and performative practice, not exclusively from a therapeutic point of view, but from an expressive, performative, and creative perspective. It will do so by analysing what I call “dynamic breath output” (the multiple characteristics which breath produces as forms of expression) through varied regular workshops, and by continuing my own professional work in breath art practice. My goal will be to design a unique methodology without the standardisation of output, which can update and diversify performance practice through the medium of breath.
PhD project RITCS Brussels in collaboration with the Conservatory of Brussels at the Free University Brussels.
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International workshops in breath art include Cape Town Performing Arts Academy South Africa, Institute Français Kinshasa The Democratic Republic of Congo, Center for Contemporary Dance Cologne Germany, Ningbo University China, les ateliers C de la B Gent Belgium, the International Sommerlabor Frankfurt am Main Germany, the University of Zwolle the Netherlands, Les Maitres Sonneurs Opera Laboratoire Toulouse France, and RITCS Academy for Theater, Cinema and Sound Brussels Belgium.
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Publications include STOPS Social and Political Suffocation (Górska & Trakilović) - APNEA ARIA score written for SOLA SOLETTA which was premiered at the Opera Ballets Vlaandren in 2022 together with composer Ezequiel Menalled.
Until now, the role of breath as a central part of the performative and interpretative act, as well as an essential tool in storytelling, has been largely under analysed, treated more as utilitarian, and lacks definition as a tool to discover and embody authentic expression. This Breath Art Project attempts to analyse and define breath's agency in performing bodies and performative practice, not exclusively from a therapeutic point of view, but from an expressive, performative, and creative perspective, expecting unformatted results. It will do so by analysing “dynamic breath output” (the multiple characteristics which breath produces as forms of expression) as a starting point, realised during four 2-day weekend workshops over the course of the academic year 2023-2024.
We will start with a meeting in October, where those who participate will determine if the meetings will help or add to their own work, studies, research or creativity. Those who wish to stay on are asked to complete the full four workshop weekends. No new participants will be taken beyond the initial October meeting due to the building block nature of the collaboration and a wish to personalise the material based on the needs of who is present.
All bodies and breath abilities are welcome. Breath Art workshops will be organised in an academic context, but is open to students from all backgrounds and majors, working professionals and curious members of the public. Please contact us if you are interested and please offer a few sentences about what you would like to explore during our time together, based on your own wishes and what you know so far about the course. I would be happy to answer any questions you might have in signing up.
A huge thanks to Inge Peters at VUB and Eva Wilsens at de Markten.