
“respire” is an interactive kinetic sculpture that connects fire, water, and air to reveal environmental interdependencies. Visitors engage directly with real-time global air quality data, transforming the installation into a responsive, breathing system.
At the center of the work is a gas flame embedded in a water basin. Fire depends on oxygen, and the flame responds dynamically to air quality data from selected cities worldwide.
As pollution increases, the flame weakens; when air quality improves, it grows stronger.
Water, as a life-sustaining element, symbolizes purification and balance. By translating abstract environmental data into immediate sensory feedback, “respire” creates a direct connection between global ecological conditions and embodied human experience, encouraging reflection on air quality, responsibility, and planetary health.