We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Siavash Jaraiedi a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Siavash, so excited to have you with us today and we are really interested in hearing your thoughts about how folks can develop their empathy? In our experience, most folks want to be empathic towards others, but in a world where we are often only surrounded by people who are very similar to us, it can sometimes be a challenge to develop empathy for others who might not be as similar to us. Any thoughts or advice?
Empathy is born in silence, and I found mine in the quieter periods of my life, moments when I had to start over, rebuild myself, and learn how to belong to a new world.
As an immigrant, I often stood slightly outside the circle, watching more than speaking. Being a visual person who understood fewer words than others, I relied less on language and more on observing faces, gestures, and the subtle movements of human emotion. That small distance slowly taught me how to see the feelings people keep hidden.
The conditions that shaped my empathy were not easy, but they taught me that every person carries a story and sometimes the greatest kindness you can offer is to see someone with gentleness and listen to their narrative.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I’m a visual artist and sculptor whose work focuses on empathy, human connection, and the emotional stories we often overlook. My practice is rooted in the belief that art can be a bridge, something that helps people feel seen, understood, and less alone.
One of my ongoing projects, 1001 Fragile Faces, is a series of ceramic brooches inspired by the quiet, often unheard stories of children affected by conflict. Each piece is designed to be worn, allowing their presence and voice to move with the person who carries it, creating a personal, intimate form of storytelling.
What excites me most about my work is creating art that invites reflection, pieces that people don’t just look at, but feel connected to. My focus is on building a body of work that encourages tenderness, awareness, and a deeper sense of shared humanity.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
The three qualities that shaped my journey the most were resilience, empathy, and deep observation.
Resilience came from starting over multiple times and learning to move forward even when things felt uncertain. My advice: don’t fear failing; resilience is built through trying again.
Empathy guided both my art and my understanding of people. To develop it, slow down, listen without judgment, and try to truly see others.
Deep observation became essential to me as a visual thinker. Paying attention to details and unspoken emotions opened doors that skill alone couldn’t. My advice is simple: observe more than you rush to respond.
These three qualities helped me build a creative and human-centered path.
Any advice for folks feeling overwhelmed?
When I feel overwhelmed, I try to step back and look at the world as a whole instead of through the narrow lens of my own stress. I’ve learned that much of our pressure comes from seeing everything as personal—my loss, my problem, my moment. But when I shift my perspective to the bigger picture, everything becomes lighter and easier to hold.
My advice is simple:
when life feels overwhelming, zoom out.
Look at the whole, not just your own corner.
It’s grounding, humbling, and it brings an unexpected sense of peace.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://jaraiedi.com
- Instagram: @siavash.jaraiedi
- Other: https://siavashjaraiedi.com
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