Interfaces for Empathy - The 2016 Festival

The fifteenth annual Pixelache Festival explored humanity's relationship with ecosystems through the lens of empathy, bringing together artists, scientists, and researchers in a groundbreaking cross-disciplinary format.

Core Concept

The festival examined whether empathy could serve as a bridge to reconnect humans with ecosystems and themselves. We investigated if empathy—a fundamental capacity that has enabled human collaboration and flourishing—could be learned, rediscovered, or expanded through experimental approaches to perception and communication.

My Role and Leadership

As Co-Director alongside Mari Keski-Korsu, I:

• Led the development of the festival's conceptual framework
• Coordinated an innovative cross-disciplinary curatorial team
• Managed multiple venue relationships and programming logistics
• Oversaw the festival's expansion beyond Helsinki through regional tours
• Edited the publication and oversaw website planning

Interdisciplinary Curatorial Approach

Our uniquely structured curatorial team brought together:

• Neuroscientists Katri Saarikivi and Valtteri Wickström (Helsinki University), whose involvement sparked my subsequent research into the science of empathy
• Artist Laura Beloff (IT University of Copenhagen), leading to ongoing collaborative projects
• Artist and Pixelache member Egle Oddo, whose contributions strengthened our artistic framework
• Additional Pixelache members providing diverse perspectives

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Key Programming Highlights

The festival featured:

• Body-centric participatory installations like "Machine to Be Another," enabling virtual body-swapping experiences
• A revolutionary discussion format that became a significant milestone in the festival's history
• Workshops exploring interspecies communication and urban animal technology
• Experimental sessions including dream work and landscape-responsive singing
• A distinctive "cellular empathy" seminar conducted in hot tubs

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Venues and Spatial Design

Primary location: Former Lapinlahti hospital grounds

• Utilized both indoor historical spaces and outdoor areas
• Additional venues: Kiasma Museum of Contemporary Art, MUU Galleries, Helsinki City Winter Garden, and Temporary

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Festival Extension and Impact

• Developed smaller, focused versions for a Finnish tour
• Extended the festival's reach beyond the capital region
• Created lasting impact through continued collaborations and research
• Generated a comprehensive festival catalogue
• Established foundation for future empathy-focused research projects

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Support and Documentation

The festival received support from:

• Finnish Ministry of Education and Culture
• City of Helsinki Cultural Office
• Kone Foundation
• The Finnish Cultural Foundation
• AVEK – The Promotion Center for Audiovisual Culture

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