This July, I joined the summer school at UdK Berlin. To be honest, it was the title — Material Fictions: Haptic Narratives of (Un)Spaces — that first caught my eye. As the program described, in today’s digitalized world, we linger between the virtual and the real, the tangible and the intangible. For me, a lingering question had always been: can I tell stories through art, and where should I begin?
Throughout the five-day workshop, the answers surfaced, slowly but steadily. I discovered the theme I wanted to explore, learned techniques I had never encountered before, and began weaving them together with clay, fishing line, metal wire, and mesh. With Justina’s generous guidance, I created a series of installations titled The Weight of Breath. The work grows out of my personal experience, yet reflects a shared condition of urban life.
Thanks to Justina for the guidance, help, and support. Thanks to my lovely classmates, and also Stefanie, who hosted me during my stay. Thank you to my friends who provided breathing sounds for the video: Yu, Orianna, and Bochita (Orianna’s dog).
This short film serves as an introduction to the project. Work and stress often erode us emotionally, leaving traces on the body. Breath, the smallest cloud we carry within us, is like a weather system beneath the skin. In both architecture and everyday life, we are always searching for lightness. But when the mind becomes restless and entangled, even breathing feels heavy. Take a breath, the oldest advice still speaks the simplest truth.