See it, Hear it, is an experimental installation to enhance people’s understanding, for more empathic behaviour in face-to-face interactions. By testing this with people, I realised that simple techniques can be effective at shifting behaviour.
Speaking through a cone connected via a tube to headphones that another person wears creates an intimate and real-time influence on the other person’s ability to focus on you.
By looking through a mirror with a cut-out for the eyes, each person’s face merges with the other person’s eyes. This stimulates and magnifies perspective taking, because you are more aware of your emotions being expressed through facial expressions, as well as becoming more aware of how the other person might feel, and how they might perceive your behaviour.
A tangible embodiment of empathy.