AND… BREATHE
Full version coming FEB 2025 Illuminate Oldham!Images below are from its first test showing in Rotherham as part of their christmas light switch on NOV 2024.
Please contact touring@pif-paf.co.uk for more info or for any booking enquiries.
A new sound and light installation from Pif-Paf exploring breath, breathing alone and breathing together, mixing science and the raw joy playing toegther.
And…Breathe grows from Co-AD Eleanor Hooper’s musical and breath work practice as a performer and with communities and Pete Gunson’s love of making ambitious architectural timber structures. These are mixed with our tech collaborator Vasthu’s developing work around the world with interactivity and light & sound.
It mixes and develops successes from our previous installations with an uncompromising drive for inspiring sustainability – and glorious play.
The development Timeline:
- Jan’24 development residency at Level Centre Matlock developing our foundation ideas, exploring breath work, tech and sculptural elements
- Spring ’24 – on going research of materials and coatings for best sheen on steam bent timber
- June/July ’24 fundraising
- Summer ’24 tech partners developing new system for managing light, sound and interaction across our work
- Autumn ’24 start build, develop 2 elements for audience test showings at Rotherham and Barnsley
- Winter ’24 full build
- Feb ’25 full premier and start on-going touring – Dates TBA
- July ’25 – Timber Festival
- Jan ’26 8 week residency at Level Centre
Breath is such a powerful tool for us all to find security and calm both in the moment and in our lives. People chase highs in so many ways but with a pair of lungs, a few minutes and the right place we can find surprising joy.
And…Breathe will be a mid scale installation – up to 9m x 9m area and 6m tall mixing ground based elements with our expertise in rigging above the audience to create a fully immersive experience. The structure will be elements in sculpted and steam bent Ash with integrated lights and sound as well as a “global” sound scape. Clever use of intelligent lights and gold finishes with bring the sculpture very much to life.
Interaction will mix our established successful use of ultrasonic sensors with new touch sensors – mixing accessibility with tactility. We are creating a simple game to mix presence, touch and easy movement to tie people’s own breath into the sculpture and then build patterns of light which when synchronised trigger an “easter egg” celebration… maybe involving a high powered bespoke mirror ball .. you never know.
The Welcome – And…Breath will be made of a series of wing or rib like elements in tactile Ash wood that together will cocoon a large and fluid space, a central carved bench will invite and facilitate people to stay a while.