The group exhibition Air de repos (Breathwork) aspires to generate a renewed awareness of what it means to breathe, not only on an individual level but on a collective one. At a time when the world is experienced in a climate of widespread asphyxia, Air de repos (Breathwork) aims to transform the museum into a temporary breathing machine.

Curated by Cédric Fauq

In recent years, the convergence of political, ecological, and public health phenomena has led to the simple act of breathing to be seen as a privilege. We have been able to observe and analyse the differentiated impact of air pollution according to one’s social background, the ease with which the airways of certain populations can be blocked under the pretext of maintaining order ("I Can't Breathe"), and the potential for air to become a threat due to the viruses and other harmful agents it may contain.

In a museum, air is a subject in its own right. Displaying and conserving works of art requires special control and management because art needs stable, neutral air if it is to survive. This implies that the museum contains its own air, different from that of the outside world. The question asked by Air de repos (Breathwork) is whether it might be possible to breathe differently in the museum.

To imagine the Capc as a rest area, the exhibition was devised around the idea of a "museum without images". The aim is to combat retinal fatigue and the centrality of the eye in museums, and to give images a rest. Mainly comprised of installations, ready-mades and sound works, the guest artists share the idea that sculpture breathes.

With Kobby Adi, Pierre Allain, Alvaro Barrington, Celeste Burlina, Rhea Dillon, Adam Farah-Saad, Valérian Goalec, Eva Gold, Jan S. Hansen, Steffani Jemison, Alexandre Khondji, Sin Wai Kin & Sophia Al Maria, Carolyn Lazard, Brianna Leatherbury, Guillaume Maraud, Park McArthur, Jack O’Brien, Olu Ogunnaike, Ima-Abasi Okon, Russell Perkins, Lea Porsager, Cameron Rowland, Cally Spooner, Jesse Stecklow, Sung Tieu, Jessica Vaughn, Abbas Zahedi.