(This is) Air, developed by Nic Brunsdon in collaboration with ENESS, draws attention to one of the universal and defining features of life on earth: breathing air.

Utilising air as a building material, (This is) Air takes form as a large sphere structure, set within the NGV Garden. It will morph and change throughout the day as it expands and then releases air in a natural rhythm. A contemplative study of air and time, the fully inflated spherical form will stand more than fourteen metres tall, evoking a sense of uplifting optimism. Throughout the day, the structure will ‘exhale’, releasing gusts of air as it transforms into an array of cloud-like configurations, before filling to capacity once more. By making air seen, heard and felt, the work highlights our connection to and dependency on air – a finite resource whose quality is becoming increasingly affected.

This year’s Architecture Commission is part of the 2023 NGV Triennial, which brings contemporary art, design and architecture into dialogue, offering a visually arresting and thought-provoking view of the world today.

November 2023 – June 2024

For information: https://www.ngv.vic.gov.au/exhibition/2023-ngv-architecture-commission-this-is-air/