enni-kukka tuomala

i am the world’s first empathy artist. my vision is to transform empathy from an individual feeling to a collective and radical power to fight the growing global empathy deficit both between humans, and humans and other species. my multidisciplinary and research-based practice investigates the relationships between empathy, power, space and systems.

at the centre of my work are spatial and sculptural artworks, site-specific installations, public space interventions and participatory projects that imagine new environments for connection, invite interaction and create intimate moments with oneself, each other, and our environments. my work seeks to transform empathy from an abstract concept into a tangible and aesthetic experience – a material that can be seen, felt, shaped and inhabited.

since 2018 i have been investigating the relationship between empathy and power. i have previously collaborated with the parliament of finland, empatia ele (2018-19), creating a series of artworks and collection of empathy tools for politics together with members of parliament. in 2019 i launched the campaign for empathy, an ongoing community-centered art project to examine the role of empathy in building stronger, more equitable and connected communities. since 2023, i have worked as the election artist, investigating the state of western democracy, health of electoral systems and the role of empathy in political culture across finland, the EU, the UK, and the USA. in january 2025 i launched the new multiyear empathy council project with the finnish cultural foundation.

after years of focusing my practice on interpersonal empathy, i have begun exploring interspecies empathy between humans and non-humans. i have developed a new body of research and a new model for ‘radical planetary empathy’; the empathy ecosystem, tracing the ecological, economic and social role of empathy in all human and non-human life, and a new growing body of work; forest empathy, understanding the perspectives and experiences of trees. in may 2024 my new large-scale site-specific forest empathy installation was unveiled in the new permanent exhibition at the finnish forest museum lusto, following a three year collaboration with the museum.

expanding empathies, my first solo show in finland, is currently on show at amos rex, helsinki, 2 april - 31 august 2025. previously my work has been exhibited at tate liverpool (2022), the philadelphia museum of art (2019-20), the design museum (2021) and somerset house (2021), the BBC (2020), and the finnish forest museum lusto (2024-34) to name a few. in 2021 i represented finland at the london design biennale with the empathy echo chamber installation, inviting over 1,000 visitors to step inside the artwork to share an intimate moment with a stranger.

originally from finland, i live and work in london. i have an MA from the royal college of art (2018) and the university of oxford (2010), as well as an MSc from imperial college london (2018).