kaprow-breathing, 2020
Video performance by Enza Galantini and Alessandro Paiano, edited and produced by Alessandro Paiano
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1eIgxTCvPWI
After a few weeks of meeting on Zoom, we decided to pay particular attention to breathing. Breathing regulates our heartbeats, our moods and the other way around. Breathing is related to the perception of time and is also something shared with the people around us.But what if you can’t have anyone around?
We followed “ a sketch for a possible breathing piece” created by Allan Kaprow in 1969 and performed it on Zoom between London and New York City in June 2020.
The result is kaprow-breathing.
from Kaprow:
Today,in 1979, I’m paying attention to breathing.I’ve held my breath for years-held it for dear life. And I might have suffocated if (in spite of myself) I hadn’t had to let go of it periodically.
…Since this piece has not been performed, I can only speculate what would happen in carrying it out.
Kaprow, A. 2003. Essays on The Blurring of Art and Life. Edited by Jeff Kelley, expanded edition. University of California Press, Berkeley, Los Angeles, London. (pp 196/198)
Some frames from the Zoom backstage.