The artwork Hulda & Lilli (2023) examines empathy through storytelling. The work is an inventive human experiment, which aims to draw out an emotional reaction and encourages viewers to probe into the making of their feelings. The immersive installation offers two paths with different perspectives – who or what will you empathize with? In the work, anthropomorphism – seeing human-like features in other animals and beings – is calculated, and the visitors might be led astray at a first glance.

The work is currently at display at MU Hybrid Art house in Eindhoven, the Netherlands until September 15, 2024.

The artwork premiered at Maija Tammi’s solo exhibition Empathy Machine at The Finnish Museum of Photography, in Helsinki, Finland, March 30th – August 27th, 2023. Hulda & Lilli is also an art book by Kult Books.

Installation image, MU Hybrid Art House, June 5th, 2024.
Installation image, MU Hybrid Art House, June 5th, 2024. Photograph by MU/Hanneke Wetzer.
Installation image, MU Hybrid Art House, June 5th, 2024. Photograph by MU/Hanneke Wetzer.
Installation image, MU Hybrid Art House, June 5th, 2024. Photograph by MU/Hanneke Wetzer.
Installation image. Hulda & Lilli, Empathy Machine, The Finnish Museum of Photography, March 30 – August 27, 2023. Photograph: Angel Gil.
Installation image. Empathy Machine, The Finnish Museum of Photography, March 30 – August 27, 2023. Photograph: Angel Gil.
Detail of the artwork Hulda & Lilli, 2023.
Detail of the artwork Hulda & Lilli, 2023.
Installation image. Hulda & Lilli, Empathy Machine, The Finnish Museum of Photography, March 30 – August 27, 2023. Photograph: Angel Gil.
Installation image. Hulda & Lilli, Empathy Machine, The Finnish Museum of Photography, March 30 – August 27, 2023. Photograph: Angel Gil.
Installation image. Hulda & Lilli, Empathy Machine, The Finnish Museum of Photography, March 30 – August 27, 2023. Photograph: Angel Gil.
Installation image. Hulda & Lilli, Empathy Machine, The Finnish Museum of Photography, March 30 – August 27, 2023.
A sample of the English feedback notes.

The research of the artwork was graciously helped by Doctor of Arts Kristiina Koskinen, Doctor Marius Vollberg, specialized in psychology and neuroscience, and Joni Ollonen, doctoral researcher in biology.