Attendees of the Annual Conference of the Association of Asia Pacific Performing Arts Centres 2019 tour MCAD

How can a rhythmic breathing ritual influence human consciousness? Last 22 September, Mel O’Callaghan’s (Australia) work titled Respire, Respire immersed a 200 strong audience from the Cultural Center of the Philippines and the Association of Asia Pacific Performing Arts Centers with her 20 minute performance that uses “breath as a material form, accumulating and reverberating across video, performance and sculpture”. It is said that the “performative use of breath as condition for energizing life echoes the bubbling gas from the recesses of deep ocean” an aspect which is presented within O’Callaghan’s supporting video work. The performance pushes the individuals to an extreme point where they achieve a trance-like state.

Guests from the Cultural Center of the Philippines and Association of Asia Pacific Performing Arts Centers watch Respire, Respire, a performance work by Mel O’Callaghan.
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