Scanned Artists, 2020

Empathy is the ability to sense the emotions and feelings of others, as well as the ability to imagine and understand what they may be thinking. By seeing an artist’s work, we can empathize with their opinions and experiences, giving us the pathway into their thoughts. We are continuously looking for a relationship between ourselves and what we see around us. As a result, artwork is simply another form of communication. Artists are able to use this communication to reach out to viewers and to share with them their opinions, beliefs, and life stories—including the ones they may not be able to share out loud.

Each photograph presents the portrait of an artist as they placed their face against the scanner, leaving behind prints and skin cells. Although the scanner was disinfected after each use, there becomes a unity as each artist places their skin against the scanner—sharing the same space where an artist before them had been. The works aim to reflect on the relationship of each individual in the world and how artwork has the ability to connect us all.