Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam 2024

This 7-meter by 3-meter canvas holds 2.3 million dots—each representing one person in the Netherlands struggling with mental health. The sheer number of dots, organized by age groups, illustrates that mental health challenges affect all generations, though the overrepresentation of young adults is particularly striking.

From a distance, the dots blend into a seemingly uniform mass. But as you step closer, the overwhelming quantity and detail become disorienting, a reflection of the enormity of the issue. While data visualizations often reduce individuals to mere statistics, I wanted to humanize the experience. Visitors were invited to interact with the artwork by adding gold pins and personal notes—messages of support, shared experiences, or drawings—transforming the canvas from cold data into a living, evolving piece of art.

By the end of the evening, the canvas had evolved into a powerful expression of solidarity, filled with hundreds of heartfelt notes that personalized the dots. Conversations sparked among strangers, turning the visualization into a space for empathy and connection. This project was a testament to the emotional power of data visualization, showing how art can raise awareness, start discussions, and break taboos, especially when presented in a physical, interactive format.

Click here to read Kathryn Reese’s blog post on the art instalation