Mobile Art Installation

The Seen and Heard mobile art installation is an invitation to engage, witness, hear, and share your own stories.

Work-in-progress of the Seen & Heard mobile art installation
Work-in-progress of the Seen & Heard mobile art installation

There are two homes in the installation, each about four feet high. You need to come right up to these homes to get the full experience. As you get closer to them, you’ll notice almost all the windows are blacked out. Follow the instructions, and—with your cellphone flashlight leading the way—look through the open window to see and hear from a child inside.

Each home is inspired by hundreds of stories by children and youth experiencing separation or divorce, shared with the Family Justice Innovation Lab, and compiled by the Youth Voices team through a series of fictional personas. Our homes can be places of conflict, refuge, loneliness, companionship, despair, and joy, all at the same time. What we see on the outside may not reflect what is happening on the inside. Seen and Heard gives you the opportunity to look inside, and to listen.

Work-in-progress of the Seen & Heard mobile art installation

The idea for the installation came from a two-year collaboration between the Youth Voices team and The Art Farm. Read all about the project history here.

Our goals for these installations depend on who you are.

If you are a youth or child who has or is experiencing separation and divorce, we would love to hear your words! Our website is, in effect, the digital component of this installation. We are ready to see and hear whatever you have to say and share about your experience.

If you are not a youth or child experiencing separation and divorce, we hope this installation inspires you to see and hear more. Visit our website to read more stories. Share this with as many people as you can. Take a moment to simply bear witness. This is a bigger step than you realize!

Work-in-progress of the Seen & Heard mobile art installation

The homes can be dismantled and re-assembled easily, and we envision this installation visiting different locations around the province: schools, parks, malls, community centres. If you’re interested in hosting us, let us know!