Breathe with Me | An immersive Installation 

Tashkent Swiss Days 2024 | 23. - 27. November 2024 | Uzbekistan

An Immersive Experience of Swiss Design for Calm and Space to Breathe at Tashkent City Mall

The Swiss Embassy in Tashkent, in collaboration with curator Inessa Boltyanskaya, introduced BREATHE WITH ME, to Uzbekistan. A transformative installation designed by Swiss-born, New York-based experience designer Annabelle Schneider. Hosted as part of the 3rd edition of Swiss Days, this unique five-day event took place at Tashkent City Mall, inviting visitors to explore the intersection of art, design, and environmental awareness through an immersive experience.

Originally commissioned by the Consulate General of Switzerland for NYCxDESIGN, BREATHE WITH ME has captivated audiences globally with its multi-sensorial approach to well-being and introspection. The installation explores the idea of well-being through design, using simple yet powerful gestures of soft, tactile fabrics that invite visitors to slow down and reconnect. In contrast to our overstimulating, intangible, and fast-paced digital world, this installation brings us back to the grounding quality of physical presence. The tactile fabrics, inflated by air, move in a rhythmic dance guided by low-frequency sounds that resonate with our heartbeats, creating a cocoon-like space that expands and contracts. This dynamic flow shifts our perception of space, fostering a sense of calm, joy, and safety—a rare pause to experience life in its simplest form.

RENDERINGS

In a region profoundly impacted by environmental challenges, including the dried-out Aral Sea and sand-laden air, Schneider’s work offered timely commentary on climate change and its implications for health and the future of sustainable living. As curator Inessa Boltyanskaya noted, “Breathing is a pivotal theme here, where air quality poses a daily struggle.” Through her innovative use of spatial design, Schneider underscores the role of art in addressing urgent global issues.

The installation for the third edition of Tashkent’s Swiss Days marked a fresh collaboration between G’Uncha Art Space and La Maison Du Tchapan. Schneider’s design integrated tactile poufs inspired by traditional Uzbek ikat patterns, crafted by La Maison Du Tchapan to create a soft, inviting landscape. This adaptable setup encouraged visitors to engage physically and emotionally with the space, embracing a nomadic and flexible design ethos. Situated within the bustling atrium of Tashkent City Mall, the installation invited participants to become co-creators in a continuously evolving environment, where their presence actively shaped the ambiance.

This collaborative project emphasized the power of soft fabrics as both form and function, serving as a cultural canvas that invited for open dialogue and personal reflection. As visitors moved through the space, they became part of a living, breathing entity that challenged conventional ideas of space and interaction. Schneider’s installation offered a visionary perspective on how design can foster connection, healing, and resilience in the face of global complexities.

Date: 23. - 27. November 2024 for Swiss Embassy in Tashkent, Uzbekistan 
Location: City Mall Tashkent
Category: Immersive Experience
Comissioned for: Swiss Consulate NYC (May 2024) - This is the evolution Part III.
Concept, Design + Imagery: Annabelle Schneider
Sound: Luc Oggier
Curator for the Edition in Tashkent, Uzbekistan:  Inessa Boltyanskaya G’Uncha Art Space and Natalia Ahmedova
Pillows, Chapans, Bags: La Maison Du Tchapan and Nadira Abdurakhmanova
Visual Identity: Piera W
Press: UZ Daily, Tashkent Times, Swissdays, Afisha, UZ Report World, Gazet, Afisha Exhibition Review, Central Business, MyDay TV