Illustration of a person smoking with a cool demeanor and another person with heart-shaped eyes holding their hand against a pink and purple gradient background, creating a romantic and whimsical vibe.

“Romantic Love Was Invented To Manipulate Women”

Digital, 2024

This illustration was inspired by Jenny Holzer’s truism, “Romantic love was invented to manipulate women.” I found this idea very compelling, as I often enjoy exploring toxic relationships, particularly using cigarettes as a metaphor.

After experimenting with numerous sketches, I arrived at this final piece, with the smoke acting as rose-tinted glasses and distorting the woman’s reality.

Line drawing of a person with heart-shaped sunglasses and earrings, cracking a heart-shaped lolipop.
Line drawing of a person holding flowers with a sad expression, their hair flowing back as if in the wind. A chain made of hearts extends from their hand.
Line drawing of a person kneeling with arrows piercing their back, each arrow tipped with a heart or a flower.
Illustration of a person tearing paper with scissors beside a pile of torn letters, flowers, and hearts, indicating a breakup or emotional release.
Line drawing of a person pulling large heart-shaped balloons with strings.
Line drawing of a person restrained by ropes from heart-shaped balloons.
Illustration of a person pulling heart-shaped balloons
Line drawing of two people interacting with a bouquet of flowers in a vase. One person holds the vase, while the other looks at it with a heart in their eye. Petals and leaves are falling from the flowers.