Reading is done with your breath. The Breathing scores intend to create a transformational, therapeutic experience, enacting lasting changes on both- the individual and the common atmospheric body.
The BREATHING SCORES presented below were created over several years, 2017- to the present moment. They reflect the evolution and explorations within the BREATHING ALPHABET notation system. Many of the scores were composed to accompany the BREATHING SYMPHONY WORKSHOPs or HAPPENINGs in order to raise the awareness of community breathing. The participants were first properly prepared for their performance!
The participants haven’t ended the act of sensitive breathing at the end of the score, but remain practicing until their final breath. As the air passes smoothly between the Breathers building their body, the artistic material seamlessly connects us with the collective atmosphere.
TENDERNESS
TENDERNESS
lips closed in a gentle smile tongue on the upper palate body open, relaxed head slightly tilted to the side
gentle, short inhale through the nose gentle exhale through the nose relaxed pause
inhale exhale pause
suggested duration ratio of the inhale-exhale-pause cycle is 4:4:2
6 breaths per minute soothes the nervous system
you can evoke an emotion through its breathing pattern
BREATHless CYCLE
BREATHless CYCLE
The artistic material is the air we all breathe. To breathe is an act of constant becoming,
an exchange with the environment, an opening of the body to the world.
The inner and the outer, the intimate and the collective, the personal and the political,
unite in respiration. Through rhythmic body movements such as breathing
we synchronize, flowing into a collective pace of breathlessness.
Increased respiratory rate eliminates carbon dioxide. CO2 regulates respiration, it
causes the breathing centers to trigger the reflex to breathe. The body automatically
attempts to compensate, taking even faster, shallower breaths. Hyperventilating
paradoxically leaves one feeling breathless. Excessive CO2 loss leads to
oxygen starvation in the tissues.
BREATHLESS CYCLE tracks various respiratory characteristics that might coexist
with the sensations of breathlessness. They are depicted as a sequence in a positive
feedback loop. A stimulus registered on a nasal inhale, pauses the breath.
CO2 rises. Automatically the breath intensifies and quickens. The Breathing body
becomes more alert, entering a state of arousal. Breath accelerates and becomes
shallower. Hyperventilation occurs. The levels of CO2 in the blood drop. It feels
impossible to catch one’s breath, the nose breathing switches to mouth breathing.
Sighing, seaking release; an automatic response to regulate breath variability.
Gasping; quick, shallow inhales through the mouth. Accelerating. Breathing with
the upper chest. The body tenses up, sensations such as heart pounding can occur.
The chest tightens. Clavicular breathings prevails. Anxiety. Panic. Irrepressible persistence
of sighing. Breathing becomes irregular and of a small amplitude. Short,
sudden inhales through a widely opened mouth. Inspiratory saccades followed by
apnea; moments of breath retention. Fear. Jerky rhythm. Breathing movements
become almost imperceptible, provoking convulsive efforts to breathe in air...
Observe whether any of those breathing characteristics occur in your life, identify
in which situations, exploring the patterns with caution. While the breathing signals
keep repeating, they become a habit - how does one break the vicious circle?
EQUANIMITY TOOLS
EQUANIMITY TOOLS
A single breath can alter the body’s state.
Breathing is both an autonomic and a volitional function.
The Breathing Score EQUANIMITY TOOLS proposes breath patterns to intentionally
regulate breathing. They aim to restore homeostasis and the feeling of safety
to the breathing body. A prolonged state of heightened arousal becomes maladaptive.
Slow and rhythmic breathing modifies stress responses, bringing relaxation.
At first, observe the natural respiration. Feel the sensations caused by the movements
of the breath flow in the body. Explore the patterns gently, at a comfortable
pace. Respect yourself.
A PHYSIOLOGICAL SIGH is a long, deepened breath. It consists of a bimodal inhalation;
the first inhalation is of normal volume and the second, a shorter re-inhalation
comes to deepen the first, they are followed by a long exhalation (and sometimes
also a moment of retention). Breathing is done through the nose. A sigh is
about twice the volume of the comfortable resting breath. This maximal expansion
of the lungs prevents the progressive collapse of alveolis. It may bring relief.
Variation: the long exhalation might be at first easier to perform through pursed
lips, softly blowing out. To repeat two or three times.
Prolonged hyperventilation shifts the standard carbon dioxide level in the breathing
centers. The homeostatic mechanisms may become accustomed to the habitually
low CO2 levels. The following breath patterns increase the CO2 levels in
the blood and retrain the respiratory centers, restoring the acid-base balance of
the body. Breathing is done through the nose. Breathing movements engage the
diaphragm, the lower ribs expand in all directions. They can be performed as many
times as needed.
A gentle inhalation of a comfortable length, followed by a gentle, lengthened exhalation.
Aim for the exhalation to be twice as long as the inhalation. Prolonged
exhalations activate the parasympathetic ANS; responsible for relaxation and regenerative
functions. Heart rate lengthens.
Variation: the prolonged exhalation might be at first easier to perform through
pursed lips, lengthening the outbreath as if softly blowing out.
A gentle, small inhalation followed by a gentle exhalation of an equal duration, silently
counting the length. The suggested ratio is 5:5, 6 breath cycles per minute.
Gentle, even inhalations and exhalations synchronize the breath and heart rate,
which optimizes HRV.
A gentle, small inhalation followed by a gentle exhalation of an equal duration, and
a slight pause after exhalation. Holding the breath after exhaling allows to quickly
increase the carbon dioxide levels in the blood. This breath pattern should help
decrease the feeling of anxiety and panic attacks.
HARMONIA
HARMONIA
HARMONIA proposes an exploration of the nasal cycle.
Breathing naturally oscillates between the dominant left and right nostril. The
sides spontaneously change every few hours. Balanced airflow through both
nostrils takes place during this change, it lasts a few minutes. One can extend
this period of balance by changing and equalizing the breathing in the nostrils,
looking for the state of inner harmony.
According to pranayama , the left nostril is connected to the lunar energy, referred
to as “ida,” while the right nostril is associated with solar energy, known as “pingala.”
These two energy channels are believed to represent the yin and yang aspects
of our being, with ida representing the feminine, cooling, and calming energy, and
pingala representing the masculine, heating, and energizing energy.
By alternating the breath between the left and right nostrils, BREATHING SCORE
HARMONIA aims to balance the flow of energy in the body. It is believed that
breathing through the left nostril activates the parasympathetic nervous system,
inducing a state of relaxation, calmness, and introspection. In contrast, breathing
through the right nostril stimulates the sympathetic nervous system, increasing
energy, focus, and outward-directed activity.
OLFACTORY PICTUREs
OLFACTORY PICTUREs
Breathing naturally oscillates between the dominant left and right nostril. The
sides spontaneously change every few hours. Breathing through the left nostril
increases the activity of the right hemisphere. Breathing through the right nostril
increases the activity of the left hemisphere. The nasal cycle broadens the olfactory
perception. Some smells are better perceived by fast-moving air through the
decongested nostril, while others are better sensed by slow-moving air through
the congested nostril. Each nostril transmits a slightly different olfactory picture
to the brain. The differences in airflow and the varying levels of scent molecules
encountered by each nostril contribute to unique olfactory perceptions.
BREATHING SCORE OLFACTORY PICTUREs, along with the accompanying
scent, was created as part of the artist’s individual exhibition “Poświaty” at BWA
Bydgoszcz in 2021
QUARANTINED
QUARANTINED
„Breathins is a fight for space, space inside the breathing cavities and space outside
amidst the breathing world, indeed a fight for strength and elemental survival.”
*Andreas Philippopoulos-Mihalopoulos
BREATHING SCORE QUARANTINED accompanied the online BREATHING
SYMPHONY workshops that took place during the lockdown in 2020.
IMMERSION
IMMERSION
reflects the floatability of the breathing
body in the water. The lungs, filled with air, act like a buoy. By exhaling the
air and holding the breath on empty lungs, the body is able to dive deeper.
THE BREATHING SCORE IMMERSION was created for the exhibition “You
won’t stop the river” by the SISTERS OF RIVERS; artistic activist collective, at
CSW Wiewiórka in Cracow in 2020.
HOMEOSTASIS
HOMEOSTASIS
was designed to facilitate the discharge of
emotions and develop self-regulation skills, understood as balancing the states of
arousal and inhibition. Performing the scores may provide a valuable support to
everyone struggling with stress or fear, often as a result of suffering violence.
BREATHING SCORE HOMEOSTASIS was performed during BREATHING SYMPHONY
workshop during Creative Sick States AIDS, HIV, CANCER exhibition at
Galeria Miejska ARSENAŁ in Poznań in 2019 and at the Museum of Modern Art
in Warsaw in 2019
FULL DESCRIPTION :
http://magazynrtv.com/en/wydanie-4/afirmacja/tittle-tittle-tittle/
UNITED
UNITED
Breathing reflects the intrinsic interconnectedness of eco-systems on earth and
beyond. The invisible air which we breathe everyday connects as to the prehistory
of human kind and the origins of the universe. The breath of the world is shared
amongst the breathers. BREATHING SCORE UNITED enhances a deeper connection
with oneself and the environment.
BREATHING SCORE UNITED was written for the exhibition PANGEA UNITED
curated by Joanna Sokolowska at Museum of Art in Lodz in 2019
RELEASING
RELEASING
is inspired by the lion’s breath pranayama
Performing the BREATHING SCORE RELEASING stimulates the discharge of tensions,
alleviates intense emotions and reduces arousal. It relaxes the clenched jaw.
Strengthens the muscles of the face and neck. Stimulates the immune functions
of tonsils and lymph nodes. Clears the throat and relieves pain within it. It lowers
the tension in the body and counteracts stress.
BREATHING SCORE HOMEOSTASIS was performed at IV The Prof. Jozef Swider
International Festival of Music in Cieszyn in.2018
FULL DESCRIPTION :
http://magazynrtv.com/en/wydanie-4/afirmacja/tittle-tittle-tittle/
BRIGHTENING
BRIGHTENING
The breath as an automatic function of the body is an act of constant becoming, an exchange with the environment, an opening of
the body to the world. The inner and the outer, the intimate and the collective, the personal and the political meet in respiration.
The pulsating of an individual body, entering into interaction with the pulsating of other bodies, looks for a common rhythm and the
rhythm of an individual breath follows the collective pace, experiencing apnea.
The score accompanied the performance BREATHING SYMPHONY BRIGHTENING at Komuna Warszawa in 2019
https://komuna.warszawa.pl/breathing-symphony-a-brightening-symfonia-oddechowa-jasnienie-dir-dobrawa-borkala/
EXHALING WASTE
BREATHING SCORE EXHALING WASTE
As Poland has the worst air quality in Europe, holding our breath is often the
only way not to breathe in the polluted air.
The BREATHING SCORE EXHALING WASTE was composed with the intention
to help detoxify the body and efficiently exhale all the waste. Perform it
with respect to your body limits.
BREATHING SCORE EXHALING WASTE was composed for
KRZAK PAPIER issue 1 | 2019 |
FOR THE CLIMATE
BRIGHTENING
“To nothing is a man so open as to air … Air is the last common property. It belongs to
all people collectively.. And this last thing, which has belonged to all of us collectively,
shall poison all of us collectively… “
are those words of Elias Canetti getting prophetic ?
BREATHING SCORE FOR THE CLIMATE was performed at
Climate Camp in Świętne on 21.07. 2018 in Poland
FOR THE CLIMATE
FOR THE CLIMATE
The breath as an automatic function of the body is an act of constant becoming, an exchange with the environment, an opening of
the body to the world. The inner and the outer, the intimate and the collective, the personal and the political meet in respiration.
The pulsating of an individual body, entering into interaction with the pulsating of other bodies, looks for a common rhythm and the
rhythm of an individual breath follows the collective pace, experiencing apnea.
The score accompanied the performance BREATHING SYMPHONY BRIGHTENING at Komuna Warszawa in 2019
https://komuna.warszawa.pl/breathing-symphony-a-brightening-symfonia-oddechowa-jasnienie-dir-dobrawa-borkala/
AT DAWN
AT DAWN
BREATHING SCORE AT DAWN energises the body, supporting the morning
wake-up call. Performed at sunrise during W Brzask no.16 at Królikarnia the
sculpture department of National Museum in Warsaw | 13.08.2017
ACCLIMATIZATION
ACCLIMATIZATION
records the respiratory adjustment while climbing Tatra Mountains. In order to oxygenate
the body in a sufficient way, the speed of breath, even when resting, must
increase. This additional ventilation increases the oxygen level in blood.
COMPOSITION I
COMPOSITION I
BREATHING SCORE COMPOSITION I performed at the graduate show
IMMERSION at Beaux Arts de Paris, ENSBA, 2015
FOR THE CLIMATE
FOR THE CLIMATE
BREATHING SCORE COMPOSITION II performed at the graduate show
IMMERSION at Beaux Arts de Paris, ENSBA, 2015
