‘Breathe’ intrinsically tells the unique story about the new St Mary’s Square Development, reflecting its past and celebrating the character of the area. This forward thinking modern artistic sculpture is artistically progressive in nature. It creates its own personality in order to positively connect the people of San Francisco with their environment.

With the intention to encourage engagement and interaction with public art in San Francisco, ‘Breathe’ is centred around organic lighting elements. Through customisation and programming the piece reacts to it’s own environment, sensitive to the presence of us in the same way we are of it. The central glow responds to proximity enticing viewers closer and welcoming them. The dynamism of ‘Breathe‘ is further exposed through the movement of it’s scales in reaction to the San Francisco climate creating a sculptural weather vane for the city.

It celebrates the Chinese Culture Center of San Francisco, referencing the Kong Chow Temple specifically in the form of our piece. We also heavily rely on the influence of Chinese culture and history in the design as well as conveying a contemporary San Francisco Chinatown. We wanted to celebrate the influence of 500 Pine Street Company LLC of which the shape and ‘gifting’ process is further explored. It is vital the artwork sits comfortably within the open space and encourages community engagement, bringing together the financial district and China town and acting as a beacon for the site and the community. Through the artwork we tie current American cultures and traditional Asian sensibilities to create a truly bespoke and site specific artwork.