Toxic
Relationships
The Attention
There are two types of attention that I want to talk about, kind and spiteful attention. The kind attention is mostly from people that you know, for example, family member and friends. They really do care about you so they want to hear what did you do and how is your life. Want to see and talk about your success. They hope you live well and have successful life but the kindness and attention that they put on you are too much and it’s stressful. You are scared of looking into their eyes when you fail at something that they put so much attention and expectation on you so you have to always do your best. The spiteful attention can be from strangers and people that you know. They hope to see your failure and laugh about it. They like to make up and spread things you have never done and see your depression. They want to know and hear all things about you so they don’t miss anything that’s fun for them. They are like leeches, sucking blood and living on the back until you are destroyed and become bloodless.
Dream
A real story from my friend inspired me to make this drawing. This girl just graduated and already got her internship. Just stay in this company for 3 more months she will become a full member of the company. However, her parents really miss her and want her to go back to China and find a new job there. She can’t give up the chance so she refuses the request. Her parents didn’t give up, they directly call the girl and force her to go back. The parents are toxic and it’s already deeply affected the girl the fact that she has no power to say no in the end. The hands in my illustration represent parents’ hands. It’s so heavy like mountains forcing the girl to stay and can’t run away from them. The girl is becoming like a puppet to show she has no ability to control her own life but control by her parents. She still thinking and looking up to her dream but there is nothing she can do.
Control
PUA inspired me for this drawing. PUA is short for “pick-up artist” which uses for men who call themselves by knowing some tricks on how to pick up girls and are also good at it. If people know how to use it and not to overuse the tricks it’s harmful but there are people who actually use the tricks to control girls emotionally. The well-known trick is to put down girls and say things that make girls feel they are worthless in order to put up himself and make girls think they cannot live without him. It is toxic and traumatic for girls who experience PUA. People who PUA others are not in love but enjoy the feeling of overcontrol of other people to make themselves satisfied. The butterfly represents the PUA man in this relationship, he monitors and keeps eyes on her. It seems he is crying but eventually, it’s his fake tears for further emotional control.