Perú: David Zink Yi

A breath of air governs the shooting of Pneuma, a film by David Zink Yi (Peru). Cuban trumpet player Yuliesky González Guerra approaches the close-up with his trumpet and after drawing breath, blows into his instrument and holds the note for forty seconds, until his breath gives out. By reiterating the scene in a loop, it becomes a cycle in which the musician’s breath never really gives out, but is reborn after each ending. Pneuma is a Greek word that can mean ‘spirit’, ‘breath’ and ‘air’; it refers to air and the soul as the driving forces of life. Thus, understanding this work can extend towards reflections upon the cycle of life and death. 

Still from the video Pneuma, 2010, Film 16 mm in loop, courtesy of the artist, Hauser & Wirth, Zurich, Johann König, Berlin, Galería 80m2 Livia Benavides, Lima.