Image: Herbert F. Johnson Museum of Art, Ithaca
The Herbert F. Johnson Museum of Art at Cornell University is presenting Ana Mendieta’s short film ‘Grass Breathing’ (1974), a work that brings together the artist’s sustained concerns with exile, displacement and belonging. The presentation is on view at the museum in Ithaca, New York, through December 6, 2026.
Mendieta (1948–1985) is described by the museum as a pioneering figure whose practice articulated a profound connection between exile, displacement and belonging. ‘Grass Breathing’ is identified as an example of her ephemeral, earth-based performance art, in which natural materials function as extensions of the body.
The work’s inclusion gives visitors the opportunity to encounter Mendieta’s practice through film, a medium that is central to the preservation and circulation of performances designed to be temporary. The announcement does not specify the film’s running time, installation format or the number of works included in the presentation; it identifies ‘Grass Breathing’ as the featured work.
Mendieta’s use of natural materials is presented not simply as a formal choice but as part of a broader understanding of the relationship between body and environment. In the museum’s account, materials drawn from the natural world could extend the body, allowing the work to address presence and absence through ephemeral actions rather than through a permanent object.
The presentation forms part of the Herbert F. Johnson Museum’s programme at Cornell University. The museum holds more than 40,000 works from around the world and describes itself as contributing to the intellectual life of Cornell’s campus and surrounding community. Admission is free and open to all, with visitors advised to consult the museum’s website for current hours and planning information.
The Johnson Museum is located at 114 Central Avenue, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York. ‘Ana Mendieta: Grass Breathing’ remains on view there through December 6, 2026.
