Empath: Evidence of a Soul

Curated by Ashlin Ballif

Artists: Misoo, Julia Blasius, Gemma Cirignano

February 2020

EMPATH: Evidence of a Soul considers the soft power of outwardly showcasing internal feeling. While empathy is understood as sharing the vulnerability of another, it is not always easy to recognize the exact origin or cause of their feelings. A dialect of empathy is strengthened in its acknowledgement, forging the value in introspection. EMPATH asks: If repair is a process, how—and by what means—is it possible to distinguish a healed body or mind?

Misoo’s ink and graphite drawing Cocoon depicts the artist in a protective embrace with her daughter. The work exemplifies the victory in releasing her inner turmoil from her past life experiences as well as the empathetic qualities manifested in surviving both the hardships of abuse and the healing from it. Blasius’ conceptual works consider what is shared between nature, found materials, and beings. As she says, rather than “reaching into the heart of others,” her works aim to showcase the evidence of a soul, whether that be through words, silence, or questioning the state of being.

 Cirignano’s micron pen and linocut prints express how empathy can be understood digestively with the body as a soft power apparatus, what happens when there is a lack of empathy, and the relationship humans have with themselves during the process of healing. Also included in this exhibition are a series of audio interviews, conversations, and contemplations from the artists in an intimate section of the gallery meant for one listener at a time.