A recent study conducted by an international research team, led by scientists from the University of Vienna in collaboration with the Dom Museum Wien, sought to explore whether art exhibitions can enhance our empathy or alter our attitudes and behaviors. The findings revealed that visiting the exhibition effectively diminished xenophobia and fostered a greater acceptance of immigration. Furthermore, utilizing an innovative method that tracks participants via their smartphones, the researchers were able to monitor the duration of these positive changes. This research has been published in the American Psychological Association’s journal, Psychology of Aesthetics, Creativity, and the Arts.
“The inquiry into how art can cultivate more empathic and aware citizens, or shift people’s reactions to pressing societal issues such as climate change and the refugee crisis, is gaining traction among art institutions, artists, municipalities, and cultural policymakers,” explains Matthew Pelowski from the Faculty of Psychology at the University of Vienna, who is the lead author of the study. Klaus Speidel, a curator of the exhibition, adds, “Recently, there has been a transformation in how we perceive art in our societies. The arts have evolved from being seen merely as entertainment to being recognized as a robust and often underutilized resource for health, education, and both individual and collective well-being.” Nevertheless, Pelowski points out, “Despite the rising interest, there is surprisingly little data regarding whether attending an exhibition or viewing artwork has any real influence, particularly concerning its impact on our thoughts and actions. The duration and nature of such effects remain completely unknown.”
To explore these inquiries, the research team evaluated the experiences of visitors to the exhibition titled “Show Me Your Wound” (Zeig mir deine Wunde), which was curated by Johanna Schwanberg and Klaus Speidel at the Dom Museum Wien. The exhibition presented a mixture of contemporary and historical art that focused on the theme of vulnerability. The curators aimed to “prompt visitors to engage with a critical issue facing humanity” and “inspire positive change.”
These objectives were examined in two ways: Initially, researchers approached people passing by the museum and offered them a free ticket in exchange for their participation. Visitors were asked to share their thoughts and feelings regarding their empathy for others and their levels of xenophobia or willingness to accept refugees, both before and after their visit. This revealed that the exhibition did indeed reduce xenophobia and enhance acceptance among visitors. Concurrently, this immediate impact raised additional questions for the researchers about how these effects might persist in the daily lives of museum attendees after their visit, as well as the longevity of these impacts.
To further investigate, the research team implemented an experience sampling method (ESM) technique with the same exhibition, where a separate group of 41 individuals installed an app on their phones to log their thoughts and actions daily. Researchers collected responses over a two-week period, with the exhibition visit occurring midway. Comparing the time before and after the visit, the results indicated that participants reported more efforts to think and act socially and with openness, as well as increased willingness to help others following the exhibition. Most of these changes persisted throughout the day, while some individuals noted that they continued to consciously consider others’ feelings and reflect on themselves for the following week.
“These findings provide some of the initial evidence that even a brief visit to an exhibition, particularly one that employs contemporary art to address pressing societal challenges, can produce a noticeable and lasting change,” Pelowski remarked. Even if the impact is relatively short-lived, it remains a beneficial one. He further adds: “If we consider the vast number of individuals who might visit an exhibition, even if each person reflects a little more on others for a single day, this can lead to a significant cumulative effect.” The fact that attendees made an effort to think about others and became more reflective for up to a week provides compelling evidence for the potential role that art can play in society, highlighting the need for continued exploration of this subject.
The project also offers crucial insights into using art to address attitudes toward immigration and refugees, which is becoming an important focus for curators and artists as they respond to global geopolitical shifts. “For instance, the current Venice Biennale, themed ‘Foreigners Everywhere,’ has sparked numerous discussions on how art affects perceptions of immigration. Our research strongly supports the notion that exhibitions can be effective tools for illuminating social issues,” asserts Pelowski.
The collaboration between researchers and curators in this project exemplifies a new model of partnership that connects academia with art institutions. “Previously, it was quite rare to gain access and collaborate with art institutions in such an enriching way, bringing together diverse perspectives,” Pelowski notes. “Dom Museum Wien, along with various institutions in Vienna, represents an exciting new approach to arts and collaborative research.”
Currently, the research and curatorial teams are preparing for another study involving a new exhibition titled “Being Mortal/Sterblich sein,” which explores how individuals and societies confront mortality, and how the arts can offer profound insights and reflections on this theme. The exhibition is scheduled to run until August 25, 2024, at the Dom Museum Wien.
