Major new art projection switch-on at London’s South Bank to commemorate 10th anniversary of death of Ella Adoo-Kissi-Debrah – first person to have air pollution listed as cause of death

On the evening of Wednesday 15th February, air pollution campaigners alongside the family of Ella Adoo-Kissi-Debrah will gather outside the Rambert Building in London’s South Bank to launch a three-day night-time projection of a new iteration of Dryden Goodwin’s Breathe artwork – depicting Ella’s mother ‘fighting for breath’. Ella tragically died in 2013 from a fatal asthma attack and was the first person in the world to have air pollution listed as a cause of death on her death certificate.

The artwork projection, produced by art-science organisation Invisible Dust, commemorates the 10-year anniversary of Ella’s death and seeks to encourage support for ‘Ella’s Law’ (The Clean Air Bill) – new proposed legislation on air quality in the UK that is set to be debated in Parliament in February. The law would establish clean air as a basic human right for all and require local authorities to bring air quality up to minimum WHO standards within five years. Government figures currently estimate that well over 5% of all deaths in England are attributable to air pollution – around 30,000 people annually.

Ella’s mother, Rosamund Adoo-Kissi-Debrah CBE, has campaigned tirelessly over the past 10 years to raise awareness of the health impacts of air pollution and for stricter laws regulating air quality in the UK. Speaking about the event, Rosamund Adoo-Kissi-Debrah said: “For the last 28 months of her life, Ella had hundreds of attacks. While she was in and out of hospital, Ella was always worried about other children who were suffering like her, and for that reason we fight on. My kids and I hope Ella’s Law will be successfully passed by the House of Commons, as it will save lives and be a fitting way to honour her memory. My kids and I will continue to learn to live without Ella, but we take courage in the knowledge that her painful death will end up saving millions. RIP Ella Roberta on this 10th anniversary.”

The animation will be projected on the side of the Rambert building, aptly positioned next to the traffic choked Waterloo Bridge. Displayed from dusk to dawn over three nights, the images form part of a collection by acclaimed artist Dryden Goodwin who spent time with Rosamund and other local clean air campaigners, capturing them as they moved through laboured breathing. The 1,300 drawings were first shown last year as a major climate emergency commission by Invisible Dust for We are Lewisham, London Borough of Culture.

Lucy Wood, Lead Producer at Invisible Dust said:
“Projected high above central London’s traffic-choked streets, we hope that Breathe For Ella will act as a clarion call for urgent action on air pollution and the need to support Ella’s Law. Working with scientist Dr Ian Mudway, Dryden and these amazing clean air campaigners has ensured that this project is grounded in the grave realities of air pollution – but also filled with beauty and hope”

Also speaking about the event, artist Dryden Goodwin said:
“For me, drawing someone is an act of empathy, thinking yourself into another person’s life, their emotions and story as you draw them. As it’s clear we don’t all breathe the same air, the role of empathy will play a vital role if we are going to achieve the change needed locally and globally. Holding Ella at the forefront of our minds, I hope ‘Breathe’ can play a part in this call to action to pass Ella’s Law and enshrine our human right to breathe clean air.”

The switch-on event is produced by Invisible Dust and supported by the Clean Air Fund and Mayor Of London. The event will be accompanied by speeches by campaigners and performances including spoken word poet Jayda David, a three-piece youth vocal group featuring a member of Flames Collective and RnB band Nameless, featuring Ella’s siblings, Robert and Sophia.