enni-kukka tuomala

‘empathy is the most radical of human emotions.‘ gloria steinem

i believe empathy is radical. it is the foundation for all connection, collaboration, communication, and the basis of all strong and equitable relationships. empathy is proven to increase cooperation, positive behaviours towards strangers, and the environment. empathy reduces unconscious racial bias as well as conflicts between different groups of people.

the growing global empathy deficit, our lack of empathic concern and perspective-taking, is one of the most urgent emergencies of our time. widely evidenced through scientific research, i believe it to be one of the root causes behind the grave socio-economic, cultural and ecological crises we are experiencing in the anthropocene. we are more disconnected from ourselves, each other and our environment than ever before.

we are experiencing the biggest movement of people in modern history. people, cultures, religions, languages and values are mixing together more than ever before. yet, our societies struggle to find ways to facilitate this; our systems and services are not designed to enable and embrace it. instead of addressing the urgent systemic need for empathy, the weight of it is often placed on the shoulders of individuals. we can recognise the importance and need for empathy, but struggle to know how to practice it individually and societally. 

my vision as an empathy artist is to transform empathy from an individual feeling to the radical and collective power that it is to bridge the divides growing divides in our societies, both between humans and humans and non-humans. through my work i strive to propel radical planetary empathy into the very core of the systems and structures that shape and govern our shared human and non-human communities, and shift us from a human-centred view to a planet-centred view of the world.

in my art, empathy is the process of trying to understand the experiences and perspectives of others, and at times adopting their emotional states. can we ever fully understand what someone else thinks, feels or experiences? i believe the radical power lies in the pursuit of a deeper connection – with ourselves, each other, our environments, and other species. 

collaborators

BBC / the design museum / the parliament of finland / amos rex / london borough of newham / philadelphia museum of art / tate liverpool / kettle’s yard / the finnish cultural foundation / finnish forest museum lusto / puistokatu 4 / finnish institute in the UK + ireland / the embassy of finland in london / the deaconness foundation / bow arts / foundation for future london / greater london authority / LIFT / YLE / bath university / RCA / imperial college london / central saint martins / RCKa / poplar harca