Tear Drop Crystals

Crying is an exocrine process — a process in which a substance comes out of the body. Tears, like sweat and other bodily secretions, release stress-related chemicals.

By collecting and dehydrating teardrops on petri dishes and photographing them under a microscope, Suter created visual artworks demonstrating that emotional expression produces beautiful crystalline formations. The work addresses cultural norms where emotional expression is often suppressed.

The project poses a compelling question: Would it be possible to reduce the rate of stress-related illnesses by means of this relief — crying?