Apnoea

Apnoea is a perspective.
Apnoea is the present moment.
Apnoea is self-responsibility.
Apnoes is life threatening.
Apnoea is willpower.

Apnoea means cessation of breathing. Metabolism drops to a minimum. Blood flows to the centre of the body and the vessels of the brain dilate to maintain the state of wakefulness. Breathing is an autonomous physical function that can be consciously controlled by one’s own willpower. Apnoea stops external breathing and regulates internal breathing.

Apnoea is the complete responsibility for the self in the present moment. It completely detaches from all external

stimuli, opinions and cannot be guided by outside influence. During the conscious stopping of breathing there is no looking back into the past and there is no dreaming into a hopeful future. Any drifting away from the present moment would be life-threatening.

The apnoea project is about seeing life for what it is: life is the present moment. The breath is life and within is liveliness. Holding one’s breath stands for the now and the now is life compressed to the moment of presence and the complete letting go of a search for meaning. In the present moment is the self. It is willpower to the limit.

Apnoea is a collaborative project by Tobias Gutenschwager and Ireen Zielonka.