Eva Bubla: Designated Breathing Zone

Ever felt thirsty for some fresh air? Would you like to get away, at least for a sniff, from the stupor of smog or tobacco smoke?

Designated Breathing Zone is a space embedded in an urban environment, reflecting on acute environmental problems, inviting local residents and passers-by to experience and sensitise public space and our common issues in a new way.

The interactive installation, which includes plants and can be walked around, can serve as a space for questioning, dialogue or even contemplation, reminding us of the importance and benefits of green spaces.

The spread of urbanisation is a global problem, with the loss of green spaces, road traffic and industrial activities all contributing to the deteriorating air quality of our urban spaces. Air pollution is also an acute problem in our country, according to the publications of the Clean Air Action Group (Levegő Munkacsoport), it causes the premature death of 13 000 people a year at national level, not to mention other health and environmental impacts.

Recent summers have also provided a suffocating illustration of the so-called heat island effect in built-up areas of cities, where not only vegetation but we ourselves are thirsty for green spaces.

The planned installation serves as a space for dialogue on this, drawing attention to the ecosystem services and benefits of green spaces, allowing them to be experienced artistically, physically and sensorially.

The installation will debut as part of the PLACCC at RAKPART programme on the traffic-free Jane Haining Quay, then it will be on display for almost a week on another location.

Creator: Éva Bubla

Dates and locations:
2 September 2023, 2PM-9PM – PLACCC at RAKPART, Jane Heining Rakpart
3-8 September 2023, 3PM-7PM, Nyugati tér

The installation will be accompanied by a thematic discussion, continuing our Sensing the City series, launched in 2021, aiming to explore the all-too-broad and difficult-to-understand phenomena of climate crisis and sustainability through public art actions, often site-specific, and organically complemented by conversations, The more specific problems that have contributed to and are contributing to the serious environmental problems are made more comprehensible and understandable by combining the sensitising potential of art with the informative nature of the discussions. 

The role of green spaces in air quality and urban microclimate
What components are responsible for air pollution in urban spaces? Why are green spaces essential and how can urban green spaces be responsibly managed? What regulations help or could help to improve urban air quality?
The conversation around the installation Designated Breathing Zone (just as the art piece) focuses on the problem of urban air quality from the perspective of regulation, measurement and research, as well as urban planning and landscape architecture.
Participants: Judit Szegő, environmental scientist, project leader of the Clean Air Action Group on Climate Protection and Residential Combustion; Sándor Bardóczi, chief architect of Budapest; Éva Bubla, artist
Moderator: Ildikó Fazekas, design and art manager

Date: 6 September 2023, 6PM 
Location: info coming soon

The discussion is in Hungarian.

Free programs.
The event will be video and audio recorded. By participating in the event, the participant gives his/her consent to the recording and its release.

This program is realized as part of the IN SITU (Un)common Spaces international collaboration project.
IN SITU (Un)common Spaces is supported by the Creative Europe Programme of the European Union.
The installation was supported by Oázis Kertészet.