If you’ve ever wanted to share breath with the rainforest – or become stardust in the cosmos – Te Papa’s newest exhibition promises to take you there.
Opening on December 13, Breathe | Mauri Ora is an immersive digital art experience that invites visitors on a journey through nature, from the Amazon to the human body, and out to the farthest reaches of the universe.
Developed by London-based art collective Marshmallow Laser Feast, the exhibition blends art, science, and technology to explore the invisible forces that connect all living things.
At Te Papa’s workshop this week, curators tested some of the ground-breaking technology behind the show, including virtual reality that lets visitors travel through the human body as an oxygen molecule.
“You’re going to experience the journey of a breath from an ancient tree in the Amazon forest, through the human body, to the stars and back again,” said Te Papa senior art curator Rebecca Rice.
The collective behind the works used cutting-edge digital tools, from MRI and CT scans to data captured from black holes and rainforest trees to create awe-inspiring visual art.
“They collect the data, the MRI, the CT scan, and then translate it to artworks back in their studio.”
The hour-long experience began with a guided meditation voiced by Oscar-winning actor Cate Blanchett, accompanied by poetry from Daisy Lafarge.
“You’re seated in comfortable beanbags or chairs of your choice… listening to this beautiful poem read by Cate Blanchett,” Rice said.
From there, visitors move through a series of vast projections and soundscapes that simulate life’s natural rhythms, from the breath of a rainforest tree to the pull of a black hole.
“I think our visitors are going to be transported deep into the world and way out into the cosmos, and then brought back into themselves,” said Te Papa chief executive Courtney Johnston.
With tickets starting at $30 for adults, the exhibition is expected to draw large crowds over summer, and provide a timely boost for the national museum, which recently announced plans for a restructure.
“Te Papa has always been here to provide amazing experiences to New Zealanders,” Johnston said. “Bringing these exhibitions in from overseas is critical for the service we do for New Zealand.”
Breathe | Mauri Ora runs at Te Papa from December 13, 2025 to April 27, 2026.
