Sacred Breaths
"Sacred Breaths" is an immersive installation that transports you into a tranquil oasis, where the ancient practice of forest bathing (Shinrin-Yoku) meets modern urban life. Inspired by the deep wisdom of indigenous cultures, this greenhouse sanctuary invites you to slow down, breathe deeply, and reflect on the sacred connection between humanity and nature. Surrounded by air-purifying plants, you’ll witness the invisible made visible as real-time air quality data transforms the environment around you, with shifting lights reflecting the real-time changes in air quality. By comparing conditions inside the greenhouse with those of the surrounding city and a nearby forest, "Sacred Breaths" challenges us to rethink the impact of urbanization on our health and the planet. This experience invites a deeper understanding of the vital role green spaces play in sustaining our well-being, encouraging a renewed commitment to preserving nature in our daily lives.
This exhibit was made possible with the generous support of Site One, which provided the plant and organic materials, and Airveda, which provided two air quality sensors. These sensors provide the data that are instrumental for this exhibit. Additionally, we would like to thank Justin Lurie and Vera Wen, members of the Saiakwa Lab who have been instrumental in shaping the Sacred Breaths.
About the Team
Bea Lamar is a Lebanese American artist based in Pasadena, California, with a career spanning over two decades. Born in Beirut, Lebanon, her early candlelit sketching sessions with her father ignited a lifelong exploration of art’s mystical dimensions. Bea’s work merges ancestry and art with social advocacy, focusing on themes of climate change, displacement, and environmental sustainability. Now rooted on the ancestral land of the Hahamog’na Tongva people, Bea’s practice blends environmentalism, ancestral wisdom, and quantum interconnectedness. Drawing from her Levantine heritage-ancient divination, celestial rhythms, and herbal lore-she creates immersive installations that dissolve boundaries between energy and physical space. Bea’s work is exhibited globally and was recently awarded the 2024 City of Pasadena Artist Grant. Her art practice continues to explore the intersections of science, spirituality, and art, acting as a mirror to our interconnected existence.
Eri Saikawa, PhD, is a Professor and a Winship Distinguished Research Professor of Environmental Sciences at Emory University, specializing in interdisciplinary environmental research. Her work spans a wide range of topics, including atmospheric chemistry, environmental health, biogeochemistry, climate science, and environmental policy and politics. She is interested in the source and the magnitude of emissions linked to air pollution, climate change and soil contamination. Her lab also focuses on what policy measures are available to reduce these emissions and exposures from environmental pollution.