My original thought process for this anatomical heart piece was to convey the pain of heartbreak and the long-lasting, damaging impact it has on its victims through the impressionistic monster-like oozing arms branching out of the heart centerpiece, eventually devouring the individual whole and holding them captive in its embrace—a representation of letting one’s feelings take control and blind their ethical judgment.

However, I want to shift the message of my artwork to convey a more positive message, a realization that I’ve had throughout my experience as a young artist: being put in a vulnerable state and allowing oneself to be sensitive and emotional can be beautiful because it allows us to respond to our environment in a healthy way and portrays traits of empathy, authenticity, and self-awareness, being more in touch with one’s surroundings when doing so.

The pain of heartbreak is a “beautiful” kind because those temporary, harsh wounds significantly impact one’s growth as a person and, with time, heal into dull, faded scars. In fact, every challenging obstacle you face throughout your lifetime and overcome ultimately is what shapes the person that you are in the future. This is what drove me to name this piece “Wholehearted” because I have always felt with my whole heart, unable to contain my passionate sentiments, and I hope others learn to take pride in expressing this vulnerability rather than feeling insecure and afraid due to encountering another potentially harmful hardship or struggle because that is inevitable in life, but so is growth and transformation.