i’ve always enjoyed the liveliness of busy social settings. i love talking to those around me and i feel incredibly energized after meeting someone new. recently, i’ve taken notice of interactions i’ve had during in-between moments: riding the elevator, waiting in line, sitting beside a stranger in a coffee shop, etc. the unexpectedness of making a connection in such a routine moment excites me.

despite this, human connection in public spaces has become increasingly rare. during these in-between moments, most people turn to their phones or wear headphones to isolate themselves from the world around them. therefore, this project, titled conversations in passing seeks to interrupt that pattern by creating brief moments of interaction between strangers.

to facilitate this, i distibuted one hundred brightly colored cards to one hundred strangers. the cards instruct users to tap them to their phones and use NFC technology to open this webpage. here, users (that’s you!) are presented with a simple challenge: initiate a conversation with someone you do not know. upon completing, participants are invited to answer a few questions about their experience, document it through a selfie, and finally pass the card to the stranger they interacted with.

as the cards move from person to person, they generate a growing network of interactions. the images and reflections collected form an archive of connection. this archive will be translated into a visual experience at my exhibition, allowing visitors to engage with the subtle ways in which human interaction shapes our shared social experience. i intend to display each of the selfies received on an interactive digital canvas. visit the “about the exhibition” page to learn more, i would love to see you there!