About “Obsession”:

This piece intricately entwines my artistry, employing the trompe l’oeil technique to narrate the evolution from sketches and scrap paper to the final painting. Within the monochromatic pink and black painting, a romantic scene is portrayed: my dance with Death on a lake beneath a sunset’s embrace. As society drives us to prioritize possessions, such belongings are often viewed as extensions of individuals’ identities. We are what we own, and an excess of anything can prove fatal. Vanitas has always been a prevailing theme throughout my works, as well as the iconic character Hello Kitty. The sticky-note speech bubble describes a letter: “Dear Hello Kitty, Why does everything I own have your face on it? Dreezy XOXO,” serving as an inner thought I often contemplate as I find myself increasingly drawn to anything with her likeness. I have always been enamored by everything cute; however, she represents the epitome of cuteness in my eyes. Here, she embodies the celestial alignment of Aquarius, a nod to both my identification with her character and my own date of birth. In the upper left, clippings of past works serve as a profound reflection, infusing each stroke with the essence of both triumphs and tribulations. This piece serves as a gateway to my psyche, grappling with notions of art, artistic experience, and mortality.