Promoting empathy and social awareness through sculptural art installations
Görgin Ylimys, Amanda (2025)
2025
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Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2025052114051
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2025052114051
Tiivistelmä
Empathy is an essential part of people’s life in various levels. It enhances relationships with others and with oneself. It plays an important role when addressing injustices and social problems. Also, empathy has been an important factor in evolution of human consciousness. Art has the power to evoke empathetic responses by taking an event from real life and presenting it to the viewer.
The purpose of this thesis was to find ways in which sculpture installations can promote empathy and social awareness among viewers. It aims to deepen the understanding of the connection between art and empathy, and how art can influence people in various ways. Empathy creates connection to the viewer, and this connection makes it possible to affect the viewer in diverse ways. Historically, art has challenged status quo and brought out aspects that are not working well, and it is likely to continue doing so. The goal of this thesis was to elucidate various components and how others can be influenced with.
This thesis covers power of art, the perception of artworks and what affects this process, social norms, the fundamentals of sculpture. Information in this thesis is based on previous thesis, articles and various studies and author’s own experience from creating and artwork to an exhibition its feedback.
How artworks are perceived is influenced by various aspects, including context, space, viewer’s characteristics, and image features. Understanding these aspects can help to create impactful artworks and create stronger connections between the artwork and the audience. While factors such as personal characteristics, psychosomatic state and cultural cognitive competence cannot be controlled, artists can focus on elements that are within their control to better the viewer’s experience and response.
The purpose of this thesis was to find ways in which sculpture installations can promote empathy and social awareness among viewers. It aims to deepen the understanding of the connection between art and empathy, and how art can influence people in various ways. Empathy creates connection to the viewer, and this connection makes it possible to affect the viewer in diverse ways. Historically, art has challenged status quo and brought out aspects that are not working well, and it is likely to continue doing so. The goal of this thesis was to elucidate various components and how others can be influenced with.
This thesis covers power of art, the perception of artworks and what affects this process, social norms, the fundamentals of sculpture. Information in this thesis is based on previous thesis, articles and various studies and author’s own experience from creating and artwork to an exhibition its feedback.
How artworks are perceived is influenced by various aspects, including context, space, viewer’s characteristics, and image features. Understanding these aspects can help to create impactful artworks and create stronger connections between the artwork and the audience. While factors such as personal characteristics, psychosomatic state and cultural cognitive competence cannot be controlled, artists can focus on elements that are within their control to better the viewer’s experience and response.