Hungary

The notion of pneuma cosmic refers to an all-pervading phenomenon that invisibly vitalises and animates our world, permeating and connecting everything in existence in the form of air, from human sighs to planetary-scale air currents. The exhibition presents Endre Koronczi’s art project based on fictional research, an alternative approach to the phenomenon of airflow. The ephemeral works are defined by an atmosphere of slowness, contemplative observation and abstract association.

The exhibition combines the logic of scientific research with deeply metaphorical cognitive associations, presenting a vaguely outlined conjecture rather than a proof. The conceptual and visual associative network of the pneuma cosmic phenomenon and the elements of the ventilation system removed from the listed building of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences are presented alongside a fumarole evoking the huffing and puffing of the Earth’s crust. In the course of exploring pneuma cosmic, Koronczi walked for a year in order to find and capture the most important sigh. The “breath” of the pavilion is represented in the form of a minimalist kinetic installation that pushes the boundaries of perceptibility, inviting the spectator to experience deep contemplation. The exhibition as a whole is framed by composer Máté Balogh’s site-specific acoustic environment.