Do we surround ourselves with things we already know? Do we seek the company of others whose experiences feel familiar to us? Would we rather stay in our own bubbles than face perspectives different from our own? Our own bubble can create a fleeting sense of safety and comfort, yet at the same time, it can turn into an echo chamber that weakens our ability to encounter the new and unfamiliar.
Finnish empathy artist Enni-Kukka Tuomala (b. 1987), based in London, creates an experimental space for encounters, verbal and non-verbal connection, and self-reflection in her exhibition Expanding Empathies at Studio Rex. At the heart of the exhibition is the participatory installation Empathy Echo Chamber, which invites two strangers to step into a guided experience. This rare, intimate moment designed for just two people encourages the sharing and reflection of experiences together. The work was first presented at the London Design Biennale in summer 2021 and will be on view in Helsinki as part of Tuomala’s exhibition in spring-summer 2025.
The exhibition also features a new series of works in which the artist continues her long-term exploration of interpersonal distances and in-between spaces. Tuomala has 3D scanned public spaces around the Amos Rex environment, such as waiting rooms, libraries, transport hubs, and parks—places where human connection can either form or break. The exhibition presents the artist’s new sculptures based on these scans.
Enni-Kukka Tuomala’s multidisciplinary practice focuses on understanding the relationships between empathy, power, space, and systems. In Expanding Empathies, she not only challenges our perceptions of empathy but also encourages us to reach beyond our own perspectives. By doing so, she invites us to recognise the limits of our internal echo chambers and strengthen our connection to ourselves and one another.
