Remember To Breathe

In the summer of 2000, Pool Arts worked together with Alison Kershaw who is artist in residence at Victoria Baths. The aim of the project was to give space to Pool Arts members to respond to the building and a moment in time, to provide an opportunity to examine the way the group could work collaboratively on site related work.
"Exploring the relationship between mind, body and environment", was given to the group as a working title.

The idea of using the Five Element theory of Chinese Medicine was introduced and a practitioner was brought in to demonstrate Shiatsu theory. A life model was engaged for combined sessions with the practitioner as the group drew and discussed their ideas about the building in relation to the Five Elements.

The approach was intended to be flexible and exploratory. The artists taking part also brought inspiration from their own ideas and sources. Shiatsu is ONE example of an holistic theory of life which links aspects of the mind and body in a flowing continuum with the material world and the universe. Five elements is integral to some of the practices gaining popularity in western culture - Shiatsu, Acupuncture, Chinese Medicine, etc - the use of which aims to balance the medical model of health care with other models of health and well-being - using complimentary medicine and preventative work - (such as involvement in the arts) alongside conventional health care systems.

The concept of a 'Healthy Living Centre' proposed for the Victoria Baths at the time of Remember To Breathe, draws together these strands of thinking about health care provision. It also echoes some of the original purposes of Victoria Baths: in the late 19th century the connections between the health of the working population, and the poor quality of environment and facilities were at last beginning to be addressed by the new municipal authorities. As a result of the terrible health of workers and families living in poverty, public parks and facilities such as Victoria Baths were provided. Of course these elaborate and expensive buildings were also meant to demonstrate the tremendous wealth and power of cities such as Manchester - and to "morally uplift" their citizens.

Today there are new and equally pressing health needs in this and other residential parts of the city - not least in the field of mental health. Symptoms are often exacerbated by poverty and physical neglect - which begs the question of why this important local building was ever allowed to disintegrate in the first place.

In the final artwork, the connections of history and of health theories became layered and even buried entirely as the work took on a life of its own, leaving the audience to make their own interpretations of the work. The results of the residency include a number of environmental interventions in the building and an ongoing process for the artists taking part in the residency. Another outcome was the record of the creative process and in 2001 the residency was presented as part of the MA Art as Environment at Manchester Metropolitan University.

Audience Responses:

"This is all just so stunning - the building and the works interesting; it all seems so alive."
"Very big impression on me. Great combination of installations and venue. More please!"
"A positively brilliantly opportunity has been captured, I hope all goes well for all involved."
"Its rare to find an exhibition which is touching and affecting in so many different ways, which seems to capture life's energy so well. The building has its own power and existence. Thanks."
"Moving and meditative."
"An amazing experience - thought provoking exhibition - if this building is not restored it would be a denial of our local and national heritage."