Ágnes Kontra: 4-7-8 and other breathing exercises

Exhibition Opening 

In recent years, the 4-7-8 breathing technique (which is based on the ancient pranayama breathing exercise) and other breathing exercises have helped me to manage the challenges of my everyday life.

I have been observing the close connection between breathing and our state of consciousness for a long time. In the past 20 years, I have learned and practiced many types of breath control, and the birth of my children also brought me deep experience. I have experienced that with proper breathing, we can not only soothe our pain, but also open up mental, spiritual and physical spaces within ourselves. The paintings in the exhibition are the impressions of these spaces and the escape routes opened by my breathing.

Not only are we living in difficult times, but as a mother I often find it difficult to find time for my most basic needs. I realized how much free space I can create in myself through practice, which can alleviate acute stress responses. My new works are close continuations of the Minimal Displacement, Appointed Space and Voice series.

People will never understand what we do if they can not feel. All art is abstract. But it is all real… we were all trying to bring that spirit, that spontaneous energy into our work. – Joan Mitchell

The exhibition will be opened by art historian Tünde Sipos. Co-organised by OSAS Open Structures Art Association.