Breathless
Sacred Breath
18" x 22" Graphite & Phytoplankton on arches paper Sacred Breath, part of the “Breathless” series, echos the form of a tree, thus reminding us of our connection with plants and our reliance upon them for survival as part of the carbon-dioxide oxygen cycle. As such, the entire piece is painted using pigment exclusively derived from ocean phytoplankton. Yet as I began to create the painting, it became evident that the piece was about so much more than our relationship with plants. Instead, the basis for Sacred Breath was the product of my subconscious response to the Covid-19 pandemic. When faced with the daunting task of individually painting each alveolus, initially I felt overwhelmed and a desire to just get each one behind me. But after only a few minutes of working, I experienced a revelation...each one of these spheres represents an individual. I experienced a profound and emotional shift in my work. I was no longer attempting to complete a task. But, rather, the process became one of reverence, a means of memorializing each person lost to the pandemic. This work speaks to our current struggle...the battles being fought as people on respirators hold onto life, the grief felt by friends and loved ones who have experienced loss, the unwavering strength of a community united, and the countless heroes in the trenches risking their lives for others every day. May you stay healthy and remember that every breath is truly sacred.
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Meredith Mulhearn
