radical empathy studio
‘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 meaning of empathy has changed since its inception. originally, empathy was linked to art and nature, and described the experience of projecting oneself into works of art and natural environments. today empathy is most commonly linked with psychology and used to describe exchanges in perspective-taking between people. at the same time empathy evokes many reactions that come with preconceived notions. Its meaning and effects are debated. empathy is wrongly interchanged with sympathy and compassion, and its power often bypassed as a soft skill. 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.
i call myself an empathy artist as a deliberate statement and provocation to propel perspective-taking to the foreground of my practice and to challenge cultural misconceptions around empathy through my work. 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
the 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 / vantaa art museum artsi
