Breath 5 1978

Curator: Standing before us is Giuseppe Penone's "Breath 5," held within the Tate Collections. Editor: It has such a primal presence, doesn't it? Like a giant, earthen lung, quietly expanding and contracting with some unseen force. Curator: Penone often uses terracotta to explore the relationship between humans and nature, and I think this sculpture definitely embodies that theme. Consider the socio-political context of environmental degradation, the earth speaking back. Editor: Exactly, the materiality itself speaks volumes. The raw, unfired clay emphasizes its connection to the earth, to the very ground we stand on. It’s about the labor, the hands that shaped it. Curator: And how those hands, that labor, echoes the breath of life, a very vital element in the conversation surrounding gender and race. Editor: Yes, its weight and volume remind us of the physical toll of production, of the resources extracted, and the often-overlooked human cost. It makes you think. Curator: Absolutely. It's a powerful statement on the interconnectedness of existence and fragility. Editor: Agreed, I'm certainly leaving here with a greater appreciation for the earth and its bounty, the labor that makes it available to us.