Critical reflections on mass tourism and empathy in the works of a Finnish artist

Abstract

Art and tourism provide a fascinating nexus for creative academic research. This paper explores this connection by interpreting art made about tourists and tourism and by listening to a Finnish artist, Erika Adamsson. Her perspective as well as the theoretical framework of understanding others without hiding stereotypes or challenging issues are discussed. The method used is autoethnographic artwork elicitation. As a result, this paper provides a mass tourism cultural heritage album with unique interpretations by the authors, yet collectively linked to academic theories: an account of tourist representations and the possibilities of art to open minds to the worlds of others. Art, with its compositions, colours and indirect messages, invites a self-critical reflection on mass tourism that is more fruitful for understanding than mere critical analysis. Artwork elicitation and critical empathy provide a fruitful avenue for tourism researchers to explore phenomena and to engage with people who are challenging to empathize with or face being stereotyped.