JAN EVERAERT - EMPATHY VENDING AID

Empathy Vending Aid (EVA) is a speculative interactive kiosk that lets users “sell” a fraction of their empathy. By mimicking social media algorithms, the installation identifies what users care about and gradually diminishes their emotional engagement through repeated exposure. Gaze tracking and manual input shape a responsive feed, while the process remains visibly algorithmic and inescapable. Once empathy is measurably reduced, the machine “pays out,” critiquing how digital platforms exploit attention and emotion, and asking whether we would consent to these mechanisms if they were fully transparent.

Jan Everaert is an artist working with technology, code, and design, creating objects and experiences in physical space. He transforms complex information into something debatable, using methods such as speculation, exaggeration, or perversion to provoke reflection and critical engagement.

This work was selected as part of Youngbloods, GOGBOT’s platform highlighting promising recent graduates.