Dorsey Kaufmann transforms abstract data into immersive, multisensory installations that invite viewers to rediscover themselves in relation to their environment. Working across digital design, data visualization, code, sculpture, video and technology, she creates experiences that translate raw data into forms that can be seen, heard and felt.
Kaufmann’s artistic vision is driven by the belief that information can be felt, and that through embodied engagement with data, new discoveries become accessible to diverse audiences. By converting impersonal numeric values into dynamic, three-dimensional installations, she creates inclusive experiences that transcend the barriers of traditional scientific communication.
For Hidden Door’s 2025 Festival Dorsey Kaufmann presents Ripple Effect, an installation visualizing water quality through the medium of water itself, enhanced by technology, sound and light. Speakers play “data soundtracks” that vibrate water held in attached trays, creating unique patterns known as water cymatics. These sonic vibrations generate visual ripples corresponding directly to chemical concentrations found in water samples from various sources worldwide, allowing participants to simultaneously hear and see data materialized before them. Through this approach, Kaufmann creates a powerful connection between abstract environmental data and tangible sensory experience.
Having recently relocated to Scotland from the United States to lecture at the Edinburgh Futures Institute, Kaufmann brings a fresh perspective to the Scottish art scene. Her participation in Hidden Door represents an opportunity to establish connections within the local creative community, particularly with artists working in the performing arts.
Find out more at dorseykaufmann.com or instagram.com/dot_doo
