Sara’s project

Faces Of Emotion: A Solidarity Art Project by Sara Temoçin

Objectives

✅ Encourage self-expression and emotional awareness among students.
✅ Explore cultural differences in emotional openness (e.g., Denmark vs. Turkey).
✅ Promote solidarity by showing how emotions connect us beyond borders.
✅ Use art as a bridge to discuss mental health and youth well-being in Europe.

Solidarity & European Connection 🌍

This project connects with European Solidarity in:

1. Emotions as a Universal Language

No matter our nationality, we all experience fear, confidence, loneliness, and joy.
Understanding each other’s emotions creates empathy, inclusion, and social connection.

2. Cultural Differences in Emotional Expression

Many cultures have different approaches to emotions (e.g., some cultures openly express, others suppress).
By discussing these differences, we build mutual understanding among European youth.

3. Mental Health & Youth Empowerment in the EU

The EU promotes mental well-being and inclusion through projects like this.
Emotional self-awareness = stronger communities, better relationships, and active solidarity.

Final Thoughts & Next Steps

This project is more than just makeup—it’s a powerful statement about emotional connection and solidarity. By turning feelings into art, you create a safe space for people to relate, reflect, and support one another.

My personal thoughts and inspiration for the project

Coming to Denmark as an ESC volunteer has been a life-changing experience, not just culturally but emotionally. One of the most striking differences I’ve noticed is how openly people express their feelings here. In my home country, Turkey, emotions are often kept private, sometimes even suppressed, but in Denmark, I see people embracing their vulnerabilities without fear. For the first time in my life, I’ve been encouraged to talk about my emotions—how I feel, why I feel that way, and how it affects my interactions with others. This openness has not only helped me understand myself better but also deepened my empathy for those around me. Inspired by this, I want to create a project that transforms emotions into art, using avant-garde makeup and photography to visually express what people feel inside. Through this, I hope to show that self-expression and emotional awareness are not just personal experiences but acts of solidarity that connect us across cultures.

Project Structure

Step 1: Emotional Interviews (Week 1-2)

Interview 5 students about their most dominant emotion (e.g., confidence, anxiety, loneliness).
Ask them:
- What emotion do you feel most often?
- How does it affect your life and relationships?
- Do you think your cultural background affects how you express this emotion?
Recording these interviews (video + audio) to include in the exhibition.

Step 2: Transforming Feelings into Makeup & Art (Week 3-4)

Design a unique avant-garde makeup look based on the emotions shared.
Use color psychology & artistic techniques to symbolize each feeling.
Photograph/video the transformation process while discussing the emotion.
Example:
- A student who feels underestimated might have broken lines or fragmented textures in their makeup.
- A student who feels joyful might have soft pastels, swirls, and glowing highlights.

Step 3: Photography & Video Storytelling (Week 5-6)

Capture high-quality portraits of each student with their artistic makeup.
Film short clips of them explaining their emotions while looking in the mirror.
Edit the videos into 5-6 minute clips for the exhibition.

Step 4: The Solidarity Exhibition (Week 7-8)

🔹 Exhibition Concept:

Each portrait will be displayed alongside a QR code linking to the student’s interview.
Visitors can scan the codes to hear the student’s story in their own words.

A “Solidarity Wall” invites visitors to write how they relate to these emotions.