Breathe with Me at UC San Diego - Stuart Collection
The University of California San Diego Stuart Collection hosted Breathe with Me, a multi-day participatory public
art project focusing on mental health, mindfulness and community, from October 24 through October 26, 2024. Held
at the Epstein Family Amphitheater at UC San Diego, attendees will add parallel blue lines with a paintbrush to
a canvas while meditatively focusing on their breathing, painting down the canvas while exhaling. This Stuart
Collection project by artist Jeppe Hein is presented in partnership with UC San Diego’s Campus Events in
collaboration with the Tritons Belong initiative.
Breathe With Me emphasizes the importance of conscious breathing, slowing down, centering ourselves and
recognizing the significance of mental health and self-awareness in our daily lives. A tool for promoting
understanding and compassion, Breathe with Me provides a space for individuals to develop a deeper understanding
of themselves and others. By connecting breathwork with artistic expression, participants are encouraged to be
more present, reflective and empathetic.
The communal nature of the event promotes unity, as people from different backgrounds and experiences come
together and realize that we all share the essential human experience of breathing. Breathe with Me becomes a
platform for cultivating compassion and fostering connection in the community. Hein’s participatory art project
encourages participants to enjoy a moment of mindfulness and connect with members of the UC San Diego community
through a shared love of art and interpersonal engagement.
Photos by Sapna Parikh, Jen Jordan, Stacy Keck
Video Stuart Collection at UC San Diego / Kyle Dykes