With COVID-19 case rates rising and winter approaching, Peabody Essex Museum curators hope a British painter can help people take a calming breath.
Zarah Hussain’s exhibit, “Breath on view” relates precisely with the pandemic, according to a description of her work provided by the museum.
“It’s only when something like this disease comes along that you realize how fundamental, essential, and powerful the simple act of breathing is,” she said.
Hussain talked about her work during a virtual workshop on Thursday at the museum. A second workshop is planned for Dec. 3 with log-on information available at pem.org.
Hussain was living in London when Britain undertook COVID precautions that included a lockdown. She took advantage of the restriction to interview people, including a pregnant woman and a respiratory therapist, to explore the mechanics of breathing.
She also revisited work she created titled, “Inhale and Exhale.” Initiated after she underwent surgery to correct her breathing, her initial exploration of breathing led her to paint new interpretations of the physical act most vital to humans.
Her paintings accompanied by animation and sound debut at the Peabody Essex Museum on Dec. 19. “Zarah Hussain: Breath” will be on display through June.
“Hussain’s work lies at the intersection of science and spirituality and melds ancient traditions of meditation and breathwork with contemporary technology,” said Siddhartha V. Shah, PEM’s Director of Education and Civic Engagement and Curator of South Asian Art. “We hope visitors will accept this exhibition’s invitation to slow down and activate a deeper awareness of, and connection with, breath.”
Hussain, during her museum workshop this week, said her paintings invite viewers to consider ways to ease stress. Combined with animation and the Hussain’s “soundscape,” the paintings urge viewers to focus on breathing while viewing the exhibit.
“We live in a world where we are constantly on,” she said. “There is such a benefit to just slowing down and being quiet. Taking time and focus to look inwards, to sit and breathe quietly, to meditate, to contemplate. There’s a real power in reclaiming time for yourself.”
Founded in 1799, the Peabody Essex Museum is the country’s oldest continuously operating museum. Its exhibits include American art and architecture, Asian export art, photography, maritime art and history, Native American, Oceanic, and African art, as well as one of the nation’s most important museum-based collections of rare books and manuscripts.
