WHERE MY HEART USED TO BE

This piece captures Teddy in motion, walking through a vivid teal liquid—a symbolic representation of blood, made more palatable for the viewer. The heart, placed on Teddy’s left foot and painted the same teal hue, invites introspection with questions like, “Is the heart bleeding?” and “Why is it on his foot?” The answer is, yes, the heart bleeds, and it resides on his foot because it’s been trampled upon. This imagery ties into a broader theme, where the right side of Teddy is dominated by an exaggerated human brain. The heart, once tender and central, has been displaced, leaving Teddy to think more with his brain instead.

This metaphor speaks to the emotional aftermath of ignoring red flags, surrendering to temptation, and the inevitable heartbreak that follows. Teddy’s muscular form evokes the raw vulnerability that comes with such experiences, a visual manifestation of feeling exposed and hurt. The left side of Teddy, however, remains a comforting beacon of poise and strength, depicted in the traditional brown hues of a teddy bear. His forward stride offers hope—symbolizing resilience and the belief that, in time, things do get better.

Teddy’s eyes, a critical element in this piece, express new emotional depths. The cute, oval eye represents a fresh approach in MUKA’s work, exploring new dimensions of emotion, while the iconic “X” eye on the left remains a hallmark of her Teddy brand. It serves as a reminder that not everything is as it seems, a recurring theme in MUKA’s exploration of life’s deeper, often hidden, struggles.