Does Empathy Have Boundaries?

About

The distance between us is always present but rarely acknowledged. The physical boundaries between us are visible and tangible, shaped by our environments. But do we recognise the other invisible and intangible boundaries that can divide us? The spaces in-between can be shaped not only by physical boundaries, but by emotional, mental, social, cultural, economic and ideological boundaries. How can we notice, understand and measure them?

“Does Empathy Have Boundaries?” is an exhibition presenting outputs and materials from the first 3 months of The Campaign for Empathy, the world’s first community-centred campaign for empathy, which has been running in the London borough of Newham since March 2019. Led by London-based Finnish empathy artist and designer Enni-Kukka Tuomala, the Campaign for Empathy has challenged local Newham residents to consider each others’ perspectives through a series of public events, in order to build a new collective culture of empathy and to begin bridging the distance between the diverse local community, and then in turn across London and the UK more widely.

As part of the campaign Enni-Kukka has explored the evolving power structures and hierarchies in Newham, one of London’s youngest and most multicultural boroughs. The exhibition showcases outputs from her close collaboration with local decision makers and members of the community, presenting new artefacts such as empathy maps and empathy imprints for the first time.

More details will be announced soon!