Portray Me

Ana Carolina de Marco

Kylie van Gelder

Snehal More

Marta Tuminska

Sally Ocana

Yolima Grandas

about this project

In a world where visual cues often shape our initial perceptions, judging a book by its cover is unavoidable. So how about talking while knowing nothing about each other?

It sounds uncommon, but here at Portray Me, we have secured a safe and fun experience with it. Find a seat with us and illustrate the people next to you via text messages and questions: no voice, no looks, nothing. Let your imagination fly!

TOGETHER WE CAN MAKE IT

With your support, we aim to bring "Portray Me" to life at the Dutch Design Week in October, 2023

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WHY PORTRAY ME?

Art has been a part of human expression throughout history. With art, we can capture and make images of ourselves and others, which requires careful consideration. It's inherent for us to add a personal touch and interpret things differently as we progress forward.

Why does it happen? Our brains categorize and make sense of the world, relying on facial attributes, features, and vocal cues. Social norms, cultural beliefs, personal experiences, and biases can influence these markers.

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Scientific evidence supports the notion that stereotypes are learned ways of categorizing people and groups, influenced by beliefs about the world that are acquired through various sources such as parents, the media, and primary caretakers. These learned beliefs shape our perceptions and can contribute to the perpetuation of biases and stereotypes.

Stereotypes can lead to preconceived notions and judgments, preventing us from seeing people as individuals with unique stories, experiences, and personalities. These biases hinder our capacity for empathy, understanding, and building meaningful relationships.

By understanding the psychological processes that underlie stereotyping, we can begin to challenge and transcend these biases in our efforts to foster meaningful connections that go beyond surface-level categorizations based on appearance or social norms.

Our project “Portray Me” aims to challenge and overcome these limitations, creating an environment that encourages unbiased connections and genuine human interactions by eliminating the reliance on visual and auditive cues.

THE INSTALLATION

Portray Me is an interactive activity where participants can use a text-to-voice app for 15 minutes without visual or auditive cues.

It involves a dynamic exchange of questions and answers in a booth with three cubicles. Meticulously selected, these questions are designed to unveil individual preferences, interests, experiences, values, and character traits, exploring shared human experiences that go beyond surface-level categorizations.

As participants converse, they are encouraged to create an imaginary portrait of the other person using the collage technique with pre-prepared cards reading collection. This artistic activity allows participants to tap into their creativity, intuition, and perceptions, enabling them to form a unique representation of the individual they are conversing with.

At the end of the session, participants can reveal themselves and share the collages they have created if they wish.

The activity adds an element of vulnerability and self-expression, as the collages represent the connections and interpretations formed during the conversation. By sharing these collages, participants deepen their understanding of each other and gain insight into their perspectives and artistic interpretations. The oracle cards have been painted and designed by female artists from our community, featuring reflection questions.

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Project 1

For this project, the challenge was in rebranding an established product to attract new audiences, while ensuring that current users feel connected. The results were outstanding.
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Project 3

For this project, the challenge was in rebranding an established product to attract new audiences, while ensuring that current users feel connected. The results were outstanding.
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THE ENDEAVOR

By creatively combining creating collages, sharing personal interpretations, and using oracle cards, our project aims to provide a multi-dimensional approach to fostering connections and challenging biases. Through these creative and reflective elements, participants are encouraged to embrace vulnerability, engage in self-reflection, and develop a heightened awareness of the unconscious biases, stereotypes, and prejudices that may influence their interactions.