Despite the Locks
Despite the Locks
acrylic, pencil
10"x 10"
2024

This piece I created after traveling to Eastern Europe in 2012. One figure is walking away, his back to us, going down a muddy road with cracks flanked by lush grassy ground. The cracks continue into another space where another figure stands stiffly, on ice-like ground, and the cracks become larger and more dangerous the closer they get to her. In different parts of Europe "love locks" can be seen to symbolize everlasting love, and couples throw away the key to show this. Here the keys are still present as they are dangling from a row of colorful locks strung together above the figures, representing caution and fear we can feel in love.