Antonia Papatzanaki

Thank You for My Breaths! Is an art project by Antonia Papatzanaki that takes place on bus station shelters’ screens, located throughout key areas of Manhattan, in New York. It comprises digital artworks inspired by images of local varieties of trees as observed under a microscope, revealing their inner structure and beauty. The vivid colors of the work offer a powerful symbol of hope—as long as we breathe, we can make a fresh start.
 
There are approximately 5.2 million trees and 168 different tree species in New York City. This urban forest helps manage rainwater runoff and provides oxygen while cleaning the air by absorbing some of the carbon dioxide produced by New York City's 8+ million residents.

The artworks in this exhibition connect the local with the global to raise public awareness regarding the importance of plants as a basis for ecological balance. Over centuries, plants shape the biological state of things on planet Earth. By using the energy of the sun—a practically inexhaustible extraterrestrial energy source—through photosynthesis, they largely determine climate, the atmospheric composition, carbon and water cycles, food production, and much more. So, take a deep breath and thank the trees and plants for their generosity. Under the present conditions, we have learned the hard way that breathing is not always simple, easy, or a given.

The exhibition is free and accessible to anyone riding, walking, or driving by. The artist will be at the bus stops periodically, informing and engaging the public regarding the work. Please follow artist’s social media for updates on upcoming events.

This project is made made possible by the City Artist Corps Grants program, presented by The New York Foundation for the Arts (NYFA) and the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs (DCLA), with support from the Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment (MOME) as well as Queens Theatre.

Antonia Papatzanaki was born in Chania, Crete and is a renowned Greek artist who lives and works in New York. She is known for her light sculptures exploring the material properties, formal qualities, and conceptual intricacies of light. She was educated at the Athens School of Fine Arts, the Hochschule für Angewandte Kunst in Vienna, and Pratt Institute in New York, where she acquired her Master of Fine Arts. Papatzanaki is the recipient of many prestigious awards, in addition to winning Panhellenic and international competitions for the creation of public art. Several of her outdoor public sculptures are permanently installed throughout Greece. Papatzanaki has exhibited widely in more than 65 solo and group exhibitions in Europe, Asia, and the United States. Her work resides in numerous private collections, as well as the National Museum of Contemporary Art, the Copelouzos Family Art Museum, the Vorres Museum, the Museum of Contemporary Art of Crete, the American College of Greece, and the Municipal Art Gallery of Chania.