Knitting The Air

Date: September 2023

Industry: Third sector

Created by artist and activist Caroline Murray, Knitting the Air visualises east London air quality data through the power of knitting. Over 100 knitters of all ages and abilities from across the local community have come together to meet, chat and knit air pollution data from two local Breathe London air quality sensors.

Work on this ambitious project began in March 2023 – and the knitting collective will knit the data from the whole year. The result will be an impressive, eye-catching piece, which helps to build knowledge and understanding on an issue that directly affects the health and wellbeing of the whole community.

Taking part in the national campaign for Clean Air Day 2023, Knitting the Air held an exhibition at Making Space Gallery in east London, featuring the bright knitted panels of air data alongside an animated video, produced to accompany a recorded interview with Dr. Sophie von Heimendahl from The Aberfeldy Practice.

The animation was designed to complement the tone of the conversation - calm, informative, and accessible - while visually representing key themes around breath, environment and community health. It added a dynamic visual layer to the exhibition, helping visitors engage with the science behind air pollution in a way that felt both creative and grounded. The final piece contributed to a broader dialogue on clean air and public wellbeing, presented through the lens of collaborative art.