breathe with me (2025)

Directed by Kate Bae collaborated with Hyo Jung Bea

"Breathe with Me" is a five-channel video installation at New York City's Grand Central Madison Terminal, offering an immersive underwater experience. This work explores human connection, the essential act of breathing, and our vital bond with nature amid the climate crisis. It features individuals moving beneath the surface, reaching out hands, blowing bubbles, and pulling ropes—gestures that reveal both human vulnerability and the strength of solidarity.

Across five large screens, these synchronized sequences form a spatial narrative inviting viewers to reflect on breath and movement as universal, life-sustaining acts. Some feet struggle forward, others dance, some retreat—mirroring the varied paths people take through life. Linked hands, rising bubbles, and surrounding water serve as both literal medium and metaphor for the invisible connections uniting us.

Presented in Grand Central Madison, a bustling transit hub, the installation intentionally contrasts the hurried urban pace with the slow, deliberate underwater choreography. This stark juxtaposition encourages quiet reflection—inviting viewers to notice how shared rhythms, from breathing to coordinated movement, ripple outward, inspiring collective action and deeper awareness of our ecological ties.

Timed with the 40th anniversary of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) Art and Design Program and the Armory Week, the installation draws parallels between physical movement, transit, and broader social and ecological transformation. It premieres September 1, 2025, running through February 28, 2026, playing every five minutes to engage thousands of daily commuters.