This project emerged from the realities of struggling with an end of a passionate yet short-lived relationship. After an emotional breakup, I found myself traveling in the desert with a long-term couple. Out of their presence, the arid desert, and my allaying reflection, I found inspiration to create “Oasis”, a body of work that speaks about love and romanticism.

The contrast between the way love stories are portrayed in western culture, and the realities of the mundaneness of real-life relationships, is one of the themes in the work. The images in Oasis present the subtle truths behind the idea of finding “the one” and living “happily ever after”. The dichotomy of light and dark images included in the series represent the good and the flawed qualities that inevitably exist in any relationship. The titles are taken from classic love songs, as a reminder of the many romanticized presentations of love that are present in pop-culture.

When traveling through the desert, I became aware of the many optical illusions it can present to the naked eye. The desert background became the symbol of the seemingly perfect qualities a lover holds when first falling in love. The backgrounds surrounding the lovers are surreal and otherworldly. This alludes to how magical things look from a distance when love is first at hand, overlooking flaws in a burgeoning relationship.