A 2012 HBO Documentary followed the performance artist Marina Abramovic in her work called "The Artist Is Present." Over a period of 90 days, 850,000 streamed through The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York City for the chance to see the unusual "exhibit." The entire performance revolved around a simple concept: Abramovic, dressed in a bright red gown, sat on a plain wooden chair. One by one, visitors would walk onto the stage and sit in a wooden chair across from Abramovic as she started silently into their eyes. She did not speak to them. She did not gesture or nod her head. She simply remained present and stared into their eyes.

The results surprised nearly everyone. Every day people broke down into tears, usually after just a few minutes of silent staring. Tears often filled Abramovic's eyes as well. What was behind this phenomenon? A 32-year-old New Yorker talked about the rare chance to connect deeply with another human being. He said, "We insulate ourselves in [America]. Everyone goes around with headphones …. You can be near all these people, and still be in your head." Another observer summed up the exhibit this way: "I see you. I weep when you weep."

Abramovic noted that as people became quiet and still she could sense the deep, lonely pain that many people secretly carried. She said, "I gazed into the eyes of many people who were carrying so much pain inside that I could immediately see and feel it. I become a mirror for them of their own emotions. One big Hell's Angels with tattoos everywhere stared at me fiercely, but after 10 minutes was collapsing into tears and weeping like a baby."