FAQ

What is Imaginarium of Tears?

Imaginarium of Tears is an ongoing art and microscopy project by Maurice Mikkers, a Netherlands-based scientific visualization researcher, cross-disciplinary artist and photographer. The project explores crystallized human tears under the microscope and connects their microscopic structures with the personal stories and moments in which they were shed.

Since 2015, the project has grown into a large body of microscopic tear photography, personal stories, artworks, exhibitions and participatory projects. Its research and earlier experiments have included emotional, basal and reflex tears; the public Tear Archive now focuses on emotional tears and the stories connected to them.

What do human tears look like under the microscope?

After a tear dries and crystallizes on a microscope slide, it can form intricate patterns of lines, branches, crystals and textures. These structures become visible at microscopic scale and can differ strongly from one sample to another.

The final pattern is influenced by the composition of the tear as well as the conditions during evaporation and crystallization. Under dark-field microscopy, the crystallized structures appear bright against a dark background, creating the distinctive visual language of Imaginarium of Tears.

Are emotional, basal and reflex tears different?

Yes. Tears are commonly divided into three functional types. Basal tears continuously protect and lubricate the eye. Reflex tears are produced in response to irritation, such as onion vapours or foreign particles. Emotional tears are associated with intense emotional states such as sadness, pain, joy, relief, frustration or being deeply moved.

Their composition can vary, but a crystallized image alone cannot reliably determine which type of tear produced it.

Can you tell why somebody was crying by looking at the tear?

No. A microscopic crystallization pattern cannot reliably reveal why somebody was crying or identify a specific emotion.

Tear composition, physiology and crystallization conditions all influence the final structure. Within Imaginarium of Tears, the personal story provides the context for the image rather than being inferred from the microscopic pattern.

Is Imaginarium of Tears a medical or diagnostic service?

No. Imaginarium of Tears is an art and microscopy project and does not provide medical or diagnostic analysis.

The microscopic structures of crystallized tears are explored visually and artistically. They cannot be used to diagnose health conditions or determine a person's emotional state.

How are the tears crystallized and photographed?

In the studio, small droplets of tear fluid are placed onto a microscope slide and allowed to dry and crystallize. The crystallized sample is then examined and photographed using microscopy.

For high-resolution artworks, a scanning system captures many individual microscope images across the tear structure. These images are assembled into one detailed final image that reveals an area much larger than a single microscope frame.

Is every microscopic tear artwork unique?

Yes. Each collected tear produces its own crystallization pattern. Differences in tear composition, physiology and drying conditions influence how the microscopic structures develop.

Even tears produced under similar circumstances can look very different under the microscope. The resulting artwork originates from that particular collected tear and the story or moment associated with it.

How long does it take to receive my Tear Collection Kit?

After placing your order, we prepare your Tear Collection Kit and notify you when it has been sent.

Delivery time depends on your country, the postal service and possible customs processing. In most cases, the kit should arrive within approximately two weeks after dispatch, although international shipments can occasionally take longer.

How long does it take for my returned kit to reach you?

Return time depends on your country and the postal service you choose. The sooner your Tear Collection Kit reaches us, the sooner we can begin processing your tear.

We strongly recommend using a tracked or track-and-trace service when returning your sample.

How long does it take to process my tear?

Turning a collected tear into a microscopic artwork is a careful and labour-intensive process. Preparing, examining and photographing an individual sample can take several hours.

We aim to complete your microscopic tear artwork within approximately two weeks after receiving your returned kit. During busy periods there may be a processing backlog because every tear is handled individually.

What happens if my tear sample cannot be processed successfully?

Every tear sample is different, and occasionally a sample may not produce a usable result during preparation or microscopy.

If this happens, we will send you a replacement Tear Collection Kit so that a second collection attempt can be made. The aim is always to create a successful microscopic artwork from your tear rather than treating the first unsuccessful attempt as the end of the process.

What happens after my tear has been processed?

Once your tear has been successfully prepared and photographed under the microscope, we create the final image of your unique microscopic structure and notify you by email.

Digital artworks can then be delivered electronically. Print and Artwork versions are sent to our professional production partner before the finished physical work is shipped to you.

What happens to the remaining tear sample after my artwork is created?

Any remaining tear fluid is kept for approximately three to six months after your finished artwork has been delivered.

This gives us the possibility to repeat part of the preparation or microscopy process if something unexpected becomes apparent after completion or delivery. After this retention period, the remaining tear fluid is discarded.

When will I receive my finished artwork?

The Digital version can be delivered after the microscopic image has been completed. Physical Print and Artwork versions require additional production and shipping time.

Final delivery therefore depends on the selected format, production time, your destination and the postal service.

What happens if my physical artwork arrives damaged?

If your finished artwork arrives damaged, contact Imaginarium of Tears as soon as possible and provide as much evidence as you can, including photographs of the packaging, shipping damage and the artwork itself.

We will assess what happened and determine the appropriate solution. Depending on the circumstances, this may include a replacement artwork, a partial or full refund, or another suitable resolution.

What is included in the Tear Collection Kit?

The kit contains the materials needed to collect, preserve and return your tear sample.

• Collection instructions
• Reaction tube
• Three collection pipettes
• Return packaging

How do I collect my tear?

Use the supplied pipettes to collect tear fluid from around the eye or cheek according to the instructions provided with your kit. Do not place the pipette directly into the eye.

The collected tear is transferred into the reaction tube, which is then closed and packaged for return. Following the instructions carefully helps protect the sample and gives us the best possible starting point for microscopy.

How much tear fluid is needed?

The Tear Collection Kit is designed to collect approximately 0.15 ml of tear fluid in the reaction tube. This can require collecting several tears.

The required level is marked on the collection tube supplied with the kit.

Can I collect tears over more than one moment?

Yes. Technically, tear fluid can be collected over more than one moment until enough sample has been collected.

If the artwork is intended to represent one particular experience, such as a wedding, birth, memorial or another meaningful event, collecting the tears around that moment can give the finished work a clearer personal connection to that experience.

How soon after collecting my tear should I return the kit?

We recommend returning your Tear Collection Kit within approximately one month of collecting the tear, including shipping time.

Returning the sample reasonably quickly helps us work with it in the best possible condition. If a sample is stored for considerably longer, changes to the sample or contamination can become more difficult to rule out, particularly when collection or storage conditions were not ideal.

How should I return my Tear Collection Kit?

Follow the collection, packaging and return instructions supplied with your kit and make sure the reaction tube is securely packaged.

We recommend sending the kit using a tracked postal service. This makes the return shipment traceable and reduces the risk of your sample becoming lost during transport.

Who is responsible for the kit during return shipping?

You are responsible for the Tear Collection Kit until it has arrived at Imaginarium of Tears. We cannot take responsibility for a return shipment that is lost by the postal service before reaching us.

Once the kit arrives, we notify you and take responsibility for your tear sample from that point onward.

Do I need customs documentation?

If you are returning your Tear Collection Kit internationally, particularly from outside the European Union, customs documentation may be required.

Please follow the current requirements of your local postal service and customs authority when preparing the return shipment.

I lost my Tear Collection Kit or part of it. What should I do?

If your kit, reaction tube, pipettes or another essential component is lost before your tear has been processed, please contact us with your original order information.

Once we have verified your order, we can determine whether a replacement component or complete replacement kit is required.

Can I upgrade my Tear Collection Kit?

The version selected when ordering determines how your finished artwork will normally be delivered.

If you would prefer another format, contact us as early as possible. Depending on the stage of processing or production, additional options may still be available.

I lost the manual. What should I do?

Contact us before collecting or returning your tear. We can provide the collection instructions again so that your sample can be handled and packaged correctly.

What happens to my tear in the studio?

After your kit arrives, the tear sample is prepared for microscopy. The sample is examined and photographed at microscopic scale, revealing structures that cannot normally be seen with the naked eye.

The resulting microscopic image forms the basis of your personal artwork.

Is every tear artwork unique?

Yes. Every artwork begins with an individual collected tear. During preparation and drying, microscopic structures emerge within the sample, and these patterns vary from tear to tear.

Your finished artwork therefore originates directly from the tear you collected and returned to Imaginarium of Tears.

Is my artwork guaranteed to look like the examples on the website?

No two tears crystallize in exactly the same way. The examples on the website show the range of structures that can emerge, but your tear will form its own microscopic pattern.

This individuality is an essential part of the work, and the final appearance cannot be predicted in advance.

Is the artwork really made from my own tear?

Yes. Each returned Tear Collection Kit is handled as an individual sample and remains connected to its order throughout preparation, microscopy and artwork creation.

The microscopic artwork you receive is created from the tear sample returned with your kit.

Can tears from two or more people become one artwork?

Yes, but each person should order and use a separate Tear Collection Kit.

Each tear is first processed individually so that every participant has their own microscopic artwork. Once those individual artworks have been successfully created, remaining tear fluid from the participants can be combined and we can make additional attempts to create a shared crystallized artwork.

Because crystallization cannot be completely predicted, a successful combined microscopic structure cannot be guaranteed. If the combined sample works, the resulting combined artwork is supplied digitally at no additional charge alongside the individual artworks. A physical print or finished artwork can be ordered separately.

If a combined crystallization does not produce a suitable result, the individual artworks are still available and we can discuss creating a combined composition digitally as a custom option.

Can I give a Tear Collection Kit as a gift?

Yes. A Tear Collection Kit can be given as a gift and the tear can be collected later, when a meaningful moment naturally occurs.

The recipient can then follow the supplied instructions and return the collected sample for microscopy and artwork creation.

Can I collect a tear during a wedding, birth or memorial?

Yes. Tears can be collected during many kinds of meaningful moments, including weddings, births, farewells, memorials, reunions or other personal experiences.

The tear can later become a microscopic artwork connected to that particular moment.

Can I reorder my artwork or request a larger or custom size?

Yes. Larger sizes, additional prints and custom artwork formats may be available even when they are not listed as standard options in the webshop.

If you already know that you want a custom size or presentation, you can purchase the Digital version of the Tear Collection Kit and contact us about your specific requirements. The cost of custom printing, mounting, framing or other production is then quoted separately.

If your tear artwork has already been created, contact us with your original order information. Because finished digital artworks are retained in the Imaginarium of Tears archive, we can usually discuss additional prints, larger formats or custom presentations without repeating the original tear-collection process.

How long do you keep my finished digital artwork?

Finished digital artworks are retained indefinitely as part of the Imaginarium of Tears archive.

Maintaining the archive preserves the history of the project and also means that, in many cases, an existing client can return later to request another print, a larger format or another presentation of their original tear artwork.

Do I have to share the personal story behind my tear?

No. You can share as much or as little context as you feel comfortable with. A personal story can add meaning to the artwork, but sharing it is not required in order to have your tear photographed and transformed into an artwork.

Will my tear artwork or story be shown publicly?

The finished microscopic tear artwork may be shown as part of exhibitions and public presentations of Imaginarium of Tears unless you request otherwise in writing before production begins.

Your name, personal story or other identifying information will not be published or presented together with the artwork without separate permission.

Who owns the copyright to my tear artwork?

The artwork is created specifically from your tear, while the copyright and intellectual property rights in the photographic artwork remain with Imaginarium of Tears.

Your purchase is intended for personal, non-commercial use. Commercial reproduction, licensing or professional use requires separate permission.

Can I use my tear artwork commercially?

A Tear Collection Kit artwork is purchased for personal use. Commercial reproduction, publishing, advertising, branding, merchandise, broadcast use or other professional applications require separate permission or licensing from Imaginarium of Tears.

For commercial image use, editorial publishing, documentary or broadcast applications, visit the Licensing page.

For commissioned projects, campaigns, exhibitions, installations or other professional collaborations, visit the Collaborations page.